变量 (biàn liàng) — variable (in mathematics, computing, etc.) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A ‘variable’ — a value that can change, used in math, science, and programming. The character 量 highlights that it is a quantity; the unknown x in an equation is a classic 变量.

noun

variable (in mathematics, computing, etc.)

Measure word · 个

Examples

变量。
Zhè ge chéng xù lǐ yǒu hěn duō biàn liàng xū yào dìng yì.
This program has many variables that need to be defined.
x变量。
Wèi zhī shù x shì yí gè zhòng yào biàn liàng.
The unknown x is an important variable.
变量。
Qì wēn shì yí gè bú duàn biàn huà de biàn liàng.
Temperature is a constantly changing variable.

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.

变biànchanging

量liángquantity

"变" changing and "量" quantity: a quantity that can change.

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 變; 变 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攴攴pū

Sound part声符shēngfú

䜌

䜌䜌變biàn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 變 uses 䜌 as a sound part and 攴 as a meaning part.

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

日日rìsun
東東dōngbag; east

量 has 日 (sun) over 東 (bag; east). Some explanations suggest measuring under the sun or the sun rising in the east, but the exact origin is unclear.

Appears in

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