科学技术 (kē xué jì shù) — science and technology

Definition

noun
science and technology

Examples

  • 科学技术。
    Xiàn dài kē xué jì shù fā zhǎn dé hěn kuài.
    Modern science and technology is developing very fast.
  • 科学技术。
    Wǒ men yào zhòng shì kē xué jì shù de xué xí.
    We must emphasize the study of science and technology.
  • 科学技术。
    kē xué jì shù Duì wǒ men de shēng huó yǒu hěn dà de yǐng xiǎng.
    Science and technology has a great impact on our lives.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

科学science
科kēbranch学xuéstudy
偏正Modifier + head
技术technology
技jìskill术shùtechnique
联合Side by side

科学 covers systematic study, and 技术 covers practical skill, so the whole names both fields together.

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
斗斗dòumeasuring tool
Sound part声符shēngfú
禾
禾hé科kē
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

科 pairs 禾, which gives the hé sound, with 斗, a measuring tool.

Open 科 →

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 學; 学 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 學 may have used 爻 and 六 for sound, with hands and a child added later; the simplified 学 is a shorthand.

Open 学 →

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
支
支zhī技jì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

技 pairs 扌 (hand) with 支, which gives the sound. The hand part fits the idea of skill or ability done with the hands.

Open 技 →

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 術; 术 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
行行xíngstreet, path
Sound part声符shēngfú
朮
朮zhú術shù
Same sound today

The traditional form 術 has 行 (street, path) beside 朮, which gives the sound; the simplified 术 is a later shorthand.

Open 术 →

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