超低温 (chāo dī wēn) — ultralow temperature

Definition

A technical term for temperatures far below normal cold (typically near absolute zero), used in physics and materials science. 超 = 'super-', intensifying 低温 ('low temperature') to mean 'ultralow'.

noun
ultralow temperature

Examples

  • 超低温。
    Zhè zhǒng cái liào zài chāo dī wēn xià huì biàn chéng chāo dǎo tǐ.
    This material becomes a superconductor at ultralow temperatures.
  • 超低温。
    Shí yàn shì shǐ yòng yè dàn lái wéi chí chāo dī wēn huán jìng.
    The lab uses liquid nitrogen to maintain an ultralow temperature environment.
  • 超低温。
    chāo dī wēn Jì shù duì liàng zǐ jì suàn jī de fā zhǎn fēi cháng zhòng yào.
    Ultralow temperature technology is very important for the development of quantum computers.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

超chāoultra
低温low temperature
低dīlow温wēntemperature
偏正Modifier + head

超 'ultra' and 低温 'low temperature' mean extremely low temperature.

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
走走zǒurun
Sound part声符shēngfú
召
召zhào超chāo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

超 pairs 走, meaning “run,” with 召, which gives the sound.

Open 超 →

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
亻Written in full as人rénman, person
Sound part声符shēngfú
氐
氐dī低dī
Same sound today

In 低, the left side 亻 is a person, and the right side 氐 gives the sound; the image is a person lowering or bowing themselves.

Open 低 →

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 溫; 温 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 溫 is based on an older form 𥁕, which drew a person bathing in a container full of warm water. The simplified 温 is a later variant.

Open 温 →

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