精度 (jīng dù) — precision, accuracy (of a device or measurement) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

精度 is a noun for the 'precision' or 'accuracy' of a device or measurement (e.g., 0.01毫米). It is the property measured; 精密 is the adjective describing equipment as 'precise/refined'.

noun

precisionaccuracy (of a device or measurement)

Easily confused

经度jīng dùsound-alikelongitude

Examples

精度0.01。
Zhè tái cè liáng yí qì de jīng dù zài 0. 01 háo mǐ yǐ nèi.
The precision of this measuring instrument is within 0.01 millimeters.
精度，。
Wèi le tí gāo jīng dù, shí yàn shì shēng jí le shè bèi.
To improve precision, the lab upgraded its equipment.
精度。
Wèi xīng dǎo háng xì tǒng de jīng dù jué dìng le dìng wèi de kě kào xìng.
The precision of the satellite navigation system determines the reliability of positioning.

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.

度dùdegree

The sense of 精 (fine) applied to 度 (degree) gives the degree of accuracy.

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.

米青精

Meaning part形符xíngfú

米米mǐrice

Sound part声符shēngfú

青

青qīng精jīng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

精 pairs 米 (rice) with 青, which gives the sound; the character originally meant polished rice.

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

又又yòuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

石

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

度 has 又 (hand) and a changed form of 石; 石 gives a related sound, and the hand is tied to using the hand as a reference for measurement.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Units & Measurement

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