增益 (zēng yì) — to increase, to augment (benefit, efficiency, knowledge); (electronics) gain

Definition

Formal/written verb meaning 'to increase, augment' (efficiency, knowledge, benefit). In electronics it means 'gain' of a signal. Slightly more literary than 提高.

verb
to increaseto augment (benefit, efficiency, knowledge)(electronics) gain

Examples

  • 增益。
    Zhè ge xīn xì tǒng néng zēng yì shēng chǎn xiào lǜ.
    This new system can increase production efficiency.
  • 增益。
    Dú shū kě yǐ zēng yì zhī shi.
    Reading can increase knowledge.
  • 增益。
    Zhè ge fàng dà qì yǒu hěn gāo de zēng yì.
    This amplifier has high gain.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

增zēngincrease
益yìincrease

增 means to add, and 益 reinforces the idea of increase.

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
曾
曾céng增zēng
Same sound today

增 uses 土 (earth) to show that things grow in earth or are built from earth, and uses 曾 for the sound. This gives the sense of adding or increasing.

Open 增 →

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

益 puts 水 (water) above 皿 (a vessel), originally showing water overflowing the vessel.

Open 益 →

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