动能 (dòng néng) — kinetic energy

Definition

noun
kinetic energy

Examples

  • 动能。
    Yùn dòng de wù tǐ dōu jù yǒu dòng néng.
    All moving objects have kinetic energy.
  • ，动能。
    Sù dù yuè kuài, dòng néng jiù yuè dà.
    The faster the speed, the greater the kinetic energy.
  • 动能。
    Zhè ge shí yàn yòng lái cè liáng dòng néng de biàn huà.
    This experiment is used to measure changes in kinetic energy.

Origin

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.

动dòngmotion
能néngenergy

The motion in 动 specifies the energy in 能, giving kinetic energy.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

能 is an old picture of a bear, showing two paws and a face with an open mouth.

Open 能 →

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