可变 (kě biàn) — variable | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Adjective meaning 'changeable, variable' — used for factors, costs, or conditions that can shift, unlike fixed/constant ones.

adjective

variable

可变，。
Zhè ge xì tǒng de kě biàn yīn sù hěn duō, wǒ men xū yào zǐ xì fēn xī.
The variable factors of this system are many; we need to analyze them carefully.
，可变。
Zài shí yàn guò chéng zhōng, kě biàn tiáo jiàn huì yǐng xiǎng zuì zhōng jié guǒ.
During the experiment, variable conditions will affect the final result.
可变。
kě biàn Chéng běn shì zhè jiā gōng sī cái wù jì huà zhōng de yí gè zhòng yào fāng miàn.
Variable costs are an important aspect of this company's financial planning.

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

可kěable to be

可 means 'able to be' and 变 means 'change', giving the sense of variable.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

丂

丂kǎo可kě

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

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

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.