负数 (fù shù) — negative number (in mathematics)

Definition

noun

negative number (in mathematics)

Measure word · 个

Easily confused

，负数。
Zài wēn dù jì shàng, líng xià de shù zì yòng fù shù biǎo shì.
On a thermometer, numbers below zero are shown as negative numbers.
负数，。
Xué xí fù shù shí, yào lǐ jiě tā yǔ zhèng shù de guān xì.
When studying negative numbers, you need to understand their relationship with positive numbers.
负数。
Zhè dào tí de dá àn shì yí gè fù shù.
The answer to this problem is a negative number.

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.

负fùnegative

负 gives negative and 数 gives number, together naming a negative number.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 負; 负 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 負 combines 人 (person) and 貝 (cowry), with 人 written as ⺈; the simplified 负 is a later abbreviation.

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 數; 数 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攴攴pū

Sound part声符shēngfú

婁

婁lóu數shù(r)

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

The traditional form 數 pairs 攴, the meaning part, with 婁, the sound part; the simplified 数 is a shorthand.