定量 (dìng liàng) — a fixed quantity, ration, or quota

Definition

A set amount or quota, especially of food, production, or a measured component. In science 定量 appears in fixed phrases like 定量分析 ('quantitative analysis') as opposed to 定性 ('qualitative').

noun
a fixed quantityrationor quota

Examples

  • 定量。
    Zhè ge gōng chǎng de měi yuè shēng chǎn dìng liàng shì wǔ qiān jiàn.
    This factory's monthly production quota is 5,000 units.
  • 定量。
    Kē xué jiā duì yàng pǐn jìn xíng le dìng liàng fēn xī.
    The scientist performed quantitative analysis on the sample.
  • 定量。
    Yī shēng jiàn yì tā kòng zhì yǐn shí dìng liàng.
    The doctor advised him to control his food ration.

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.

定dìngfixed
量liángquantity

定 fixes or sets a limit, and 量 is the amount, giving a fixed quantity.

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
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
正
正zhèng定dìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

定 is built from 宀 and 正, with 正 supplying the sound.

Open 定 →

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.

Open 量 →

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