坡度 (pō dù) — slope, gradient | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

坡度 is the technical/measure noun for how steep a slope is — the 'gradient' value (often a ratio or angle). It refers to the quantified steepness, not the slope itself.

noun

slopegradient

Examples

坡度，。
Zhè ge shān pō de pō dù hěn dà, pá qǐ lái hěn lèi.
The slope of this hillside is very steep; it's tiring to climb.
坡度，。
Zhè tiáo lù de pō dù tài dǒu le, kāi chē bù ān quán.
The gradient of this road is too steep; it's not safe to drive.
坡度，。
Gōng chéng shī jì suàn le wū dǐng de pō dù, què bǎo pái shuǐ shùn chàng.
The engineer calculated the slope of the roof to ensure smooth drainage.

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.

度dùdegree

坡 is a slope and 度 is a degree, so the word gives the degree of a slope.

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.

土皮坡

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔdirt

Sound part声符shēngfú

皮

皮pí坡pō

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

坡 combines 土, shown as dirt, with 皮, a part used for sound.

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

又又yòuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

石

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

度 has 又 (hand) and a changed form of 石; 石 gives a related sound, and the hand is tied to using the hand as a reference for measurement.

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