方程式 (fāng chéng shì) — equation (in mathematics); chemical equation (o… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Strict term for an 'equation' — mathematical, algebraic, or chemical. More formal and technical than the everyday 算式, which is broader and informal.

noun

equation (in mathematics)chemical equation (or formula)

Measure word · 个

Examples

方程式。
Zhè ge fāng chéng shì hěn nán jiě.
This equation is hard to solve.
方程式。
Lǎo shī xiě le yí gè fù zá de dài shù fāng chéng shì.
The teacher wrote a complex algebraic equation.
方程式，。
Zhè ge huà xué fāng chéng shì hěn zhòng yào, yí dìng yào jì zhù.
This chemical equation is very important; you must remember it.

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.

方程equation

方fāng程chéng

联绵Bound pair

方程 is a fixed word meaning 'equation', and 式 means 'form' or 'formula'.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

禾呈程

Meaning part形符xíngfú

禾禾hégrain

Sound part声符shēngfú

呈

呈chéng程chéng

Same sound today

程 is made from 禾 (grain) and 呈 (pronounced chéng); the evidence gives measurements.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

弋工式

Meaning part形符xíngfú

工工gōngwork

Sound part声符shēngfú

弋

弋yì式shì

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

式 pairs 工, meaning work, with 弋, which gives the sound.

Appears in

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