零度 (líng dù) — zero degrees (temperature, usually Celsius); fr… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Used almost exclusively for temperature — literally 'zero degrees', i.e. the freezing point of water on the Celsius scale. In other counting or grading contexts (0 out of 100, etc.) use 零 (líng) on its own, not 零度.

noun

zero degrees (temperature, usually Celsius)freezing point

Examples

零度。
Míng tiān qì wēn huì jiàng dào líng dù yǐ xià.
The temperature will drop below zero tomorrow.
零度。
Shuǐ zài líng dù shí huì biàn chéng bīng.
Water turns into ice at zero degrees.
零度。
Zhè ge chéng shì dōng tiān jīng cháng dá dào líng dù.
This city often reaches zero degrees in winter.

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

零 (zero) specifies the 度 (degree), giving zero degrees.

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.

雨令零

Meaning part形符xíngfú

雨雨yǔrain

Sound part声符shēngfú

令

令lìng零líng

Same sound today

In 零, the 雨 part depicts thick raindrops falling from the sky; the 令 part gives the sound.

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

Units & Measurement Weather

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