代数学 (dài shù xué) — algebra

Definition

noun
algebra

Examples

  • 代数学。
    Tā zhèng zài xué xí dài shù xué.
    He is studying algebra.
  • 代数学。
    dài shù xué Shì yì mén hěn zhòng yào de shù xué fēn zhī.
    Algebra is a very important branch of mathematics.
  • 代数学，？
    Wǒ men míng tiān yào kǎo dài shù xué le, nǐ zhǔn bèi hǎo le ma?
    We have an algebra exam tomorrow; are you ready?

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

代数algebra
代dàisubstitution数shùnumber
偏正Modifier + head
学xuédiscipline

代数 is about 代 (substitution) applied to 数 (number), and 学 denotes a field of study.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
弋
弋yì代dài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 代, 亻 shows a person, and 弋 gives the sound.

Open 代 →

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 數; 数 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
婁
婁lóu數shù(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 數 pairs 攴, the meaning part, with 婁, the sound part; the simplified 数 is a shorthand.

Open 数 →

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 學; 学 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 學 may have used 爻 and 六 for sound, with hands and a child added later; the simplified 学 is a shorthand.

Open 学 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.