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湍流 (tuān liú) — (physics) turbulent flow; turbulence; (geography) torrent; rapids

Definition

Technical term used in physics for turbulent flow and in geography for fast-moving rapids. Both senses describe chaotic, irregular motion of fluid or water.

noun
(physics) turbulent flowturbulence(geography) torrentrapids

Examples

  • ，湍流。
    Wù lǐ kè shàng, wǒ men xué xí le tuān liú de gài niàn.
    In physics class, we learned the concept of turbulence.
  • 湍流，。
    Zhè tiáo hé de tuān liú fēi cháng wēi xiǎn, bú shì hé yóu yǒng.
    The rapids of this river are very dangerous, not suitable for swimming.
  • 湍流，。
    Fēi jī yù dào le qiáng liè de tuān liú, chéng kè dōu hěn jǐn zhāng.
    The plane encountered strong turbulence, and the passengers were all nervous.

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.

湍tuānturbulent
流liúflow

湍 means rapid or turbulent, and 流 means flow, describing a rushing flow or turbulence.

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
耑
耑zhuān湍
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

湍 pairs 水 (water) with 耑, which gives the sound.

Open 湍 →

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
㐬
㐬㐬流liú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

流 has 水, water, and 㐬, which gives the sound. The water part matches meanings such as flow.

Open 流 →
Appears in
Geography & LandformsPhysics & Chemistry

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