集合论 (jí hé lùn) — (mathematics) set theory

Definition

noun

(mathematics) set theory

集合论。
jí hé lùn Shì shù xué de yí bù fen.
Set theory is a part of mathematics.
集合论。
Tā zhèng zài yán jiū jí hé lùn.
He is currently researching set theory.
集合论。
jí hé lùn Duì luó ji xué hěn zhòng yào.
Set theory is very important to logic.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

集合gather together

集jígather合hécombine

联合Side by side

集合 gathers and joins elements, and 论 is a theory about them.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

隹木集

集 pairs 隹 (bird) with 木 (tree), showing birds on a tree, hence a gathering.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

亼口合

合 shows 亼 and 口 arranged as two mouths speaking together.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 論; 论 is its simplified writing.

言侖論

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

侖

侖lún論lùn

Same sound today

The traditional form 論 pairs 言 (“say”) with 侖 as a sound component; the simplified 论 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.