等式 (děng shì) — (mathematics) equality; equation representing two equal expressions; (linguistics) parallel structure

Definition

In math, 等式 is an 'equation' — a statement that two expressions are equal (e.g. A = B). In rhetoric or grammar, the same word refers to 'parallel structure', where two clauses are matched in form.

noun
(mathematics) equalityequation representing two equal expressions(linguistics) parallel structure

Examples

  • 等式。
    Zhè ge děng shì shì chū zhōng shù xué de jī chǔ.
    This equation is fundamental to middle school math.
  • ，等式。
    Zài xiū cí xué zhōng, děng shì kě yǐ yòng lái zēng qiáng jié zòu gǎn.
    In rhetoric, parallelism can be used to enhance rhythm.
  • 等式。
    Lǎo shī ràng wǒ men zhèng míng zhè ge děng shì.
    The teacher asked us to prove this equation.

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.

等děngequal
式shìform

等 gives equal and 式 gives form, naming a formula expressing equality.

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
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
寺
寺sì等děng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The top 竹 shows bamboo strips used for writing and sorting; the bottom 寺 once gave the sound, but now sounds different.

Open 等 →

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
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.

Open 式 →

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