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测算 (cè suàn) — to measure and calculate; to estimate through measurement and computation

Definition

测算 combines measuring (测) and computing (计算) — used when you need both to arrive at a number. Lighter than 测定, which emphasizes a fixed determination rather than an estimate.

verb
to measure and calculateto estimate through measurement and computation

Examples

  • 测算。
    Kē xué jiā tōng guò wèi xīng shù jù cè suàn dì qiú de bàn jìng.
    Scientists use satellite data to measure and calculate the Earth's radius.
  • 测算。
    Wǒ men xū yào xiān cè suàn yí xià xiàng mù de zǒng chéng běn.
    We need to first estimate the total cost of the project.
  • 测算。
    Tā men yòng xīn fāng fǎ cè suàn le zhè zuò qiáo de chéng zhòng néng lì.
    They used a new method to measure and calculate the load-bearing capacity of this bridge.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

测cèmeasure
算suàncalculate

‘测’ (measure) and ‘算’ (calculate) are two actions that together form measurement and estimation.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 測; 测 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
則
則zé測cè
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 測 combines 氵 (water) with 則 for the sound; it is explained as measuring the depth of water. The simplified 测 is a later shorthand.

Open 测 →

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

The current form 算 has 竹 on top, 目 in the middle, and 廾 below; the 目 part may have originally drawn counting rods, often made of bamboo.

Open 算 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Math

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