水平面 (shuǐ píng miàn) — horizontal plane; level surface

Definition

A technical/mathematical term for a perfectly flat horizontal plane. In everyday contexts 'level surface' is more common; 平面 alone is just 'flat surface' without the horizontal orientation.

noun
horizontal planelevel surface

Examples

  • 水平面，。
    Zhè ge zhuō zi bú shì shuǐ píng miàn, yǒu diǎn xié.
    This table isn't level; it's a bit slanted.
  • 水平面。
    Shuǐ zài jìng zhǐ shí huì xíng chéng shuǐ píng miàn.
    Water forms a horizontal plane when still.
  • 水平面。
    Jiàn zhù shī yòng yí qì cè liáng shuǐ píng miàn.
    Architects use instruments to measure the horizontal plane.

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.

水平level/horizontal
水shuǐwater平pínglevel
主谓Subject + predicate
面miànsurface/plane

The 水平 (level/horizontal) and 面 (surface/plane) combine to denote a level surface or horizontal plane.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

水 is a simple drawing of water flowing.

Open 水 →

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

The origin is uncertain. One explanation combines 八 (division) and 亏 (exhaled air) to show smooth speech.

Open 平 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

面 originally drew a man’s face, with one eye exaggerated; the horizontal stroke was added later.

Open 面 →

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