耦合 (ǒu hé) — coupling (in physics, engineering, etc.)

Definition

A technical/physical-science term for the interaction between two systems or components. Senses and synonyms: 耦 (ǒu) = pair, 合 (hé) = combine — literally 'pair-combined'.

noun
coupling (in physics, engineering, etc.)

Examples

  • 耦合。
    Zhè zhǒng ǒu hé zài diàn cí lǐ lùn zhōng hěn zhòng yào.
    This coupling is very important in electromagnetic theory.
  • 耦合。
    Liǎng gè diàn lù zhī jiān fā shēng le ǒu hé.
    Coupling occurred between the two circuits.
  • 耦合。
    Gōng chéng shī yán jiū le jī xiè ǒu hé de xiào yìng.
    The engineer studied the effect of mechanical coupling.

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.

耦ǒupair; coupled
合héjoin

耦 and 合 both point to joining as a pair, giving the idea of coupling.

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
耒耒lěitilling tool
Sound part声符shēngfú
禺
禺yú耦ǒu
Same sound today

耦 uses 耒, a tilling tool, with 禺, a sound part, for paired working in the fields.

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

合 shows 亼 and 口 arranged as two mouths speaking together.

Open 合 →

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