椭圆
tuǒyuán
The English word "ellipse" is translated into Chinese as 椭圆 (tuǒyuán).
椭圆 is the standard formal translation for 'ellipse' in Mandarin Chinese.
Meaning: curve (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The character 椭 refers to an oval or elliptical shape.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwanese Mandarin, the phrase 橢圓 can be used to refer to an ellipse.
How do you pronounce it?
tuǒyuán
Did you know?
- The character 椭 contains the 月 radical, which usually means 'moon' but in this context refers to 'flesh' or 'body'. This is because the radical originally represented a rounded, organic shape.
- The character 圆 in 椭圆 means 'circle', which creates a linguistic paradox where an 'ellipse' is literally called an 'oval circle'.
- The word 椭 can also be used to describe the 'elliptical' or 'oval' shape of a person's face in Chinese aesthetics.
Examples in context
- 椭圆是一个被广泛研究的几何图形。The Ellipse is a widely studied geometrical figure.
- 月亮绕地球运动形成一个椭圆。The moon's orbit around the Earth forms an ellipse.
- 这个图形是一个椭圆。Zhège túxíng shì yīgè tuǒyuán.This shape is an ellipse.
- 请画一个完美的椭圆。Qǐng huà yīgè wánměi de tuǒyuán.Please draw a perfect ellipse.
- 轨道是一个椭圆。Guǐdào shì yīgè tuǒyuán.The orbit is an ellipse.
Example conversation
Two students are discussing a geometry problem in class.
- 浩然 Haoran晓雯，你知道怎么画椭圆吗？Xiǎowén, nǐ zhīdào zěnme huà tuǒyuán ma?Xiaowen, do you know how to draw an ellipse?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我知道，我可以用圆规来画。Wǒ zhīdào, wǒ kěyǐ yòng yuánguī lái huà.I know, I can use a compass to draw it.
- 浩然 Haoran那你能帮浩然画一个吗？Nà nǐ néng bāng Hàorán huà yīgè ma?Then can you help Haoran draw one?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen没问题，把纸给我吧。Méi wèntí, bǎ zhǐ gěi wǒ ba.No problem, give me the paper.
