万有引力
The English phrase "universal pull" is translated into Japanese as 万有引力.
In a scientific context, 万有引力 is the standard translation used to describe the physical phenomenon of universal gravitation.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 万有引力 is composed of the characters 万 (ten thousand/all), 有 (exist/possess), 引 (pull) and 力 (force).
Did you know?
- The phrase 万有引力 follows a classic pattern of Meiji-era way of translating Western scientific concepts into new Kanji compounds.
- The character 万 in 万有引力 literally means 'ten thousand', which is used in Japanese to symbolize the concept of 'everything' or 'infinity'.
- The character 力 used in 万有引力 is a pictograph that originally represented a plow or a muscle, symbolizing physical strength.
Examples in context
- 世界中の人々を引き寄せるのは、普遍的な引力です。The force that attracts people from all over the world is the universal pull.
- 万有引力の法則を学びました。ban'yuuinryoku no housoku o manabimashita.I learned the law of universal gravitation.
- 万有引力は宇宙の基本です。ban'yuuinryoku wa uchuu no kihon desu.Universal gravitation is a fundamental part of the universe.
Example conversation
Two students are studying for a science exam in a library.
- 美咲 Misaki万有引力の仕組みは難しいね。ban'yuuinryoku no shikumi wa muzukashii ne.The mechanism of universal gravitation is difficult, isn't it?
- 大翔 Hirotoそうだね、でも面白いよ。sou da ne, demo omoshiroi yo.That's true, but it's interesting.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔くんは理解できた？Hiroto-kun wa rikai dekita?Hiroto, were you able to understand it?
- 大翔 Hiroto少しずつ分かってきたよ。sukoshizutsu wakatte kita yo.I'm starting to understand it bit by bit.
