About
The character 矩 is a phono-semantic compound, with the semantic component 矢 (shǐ, "arrow") on the left, historically associated with straightness and measurement, and the phonetic component 厘 (jù) on the right. It originally denoted a carpenter's square, a tool used to draw right angles and ensure accuracy in construction. From this concrete instrument, its meaning extended to abstract concepts of measurement, rules, proper conduct, and social norms. In mathematical and geometric contexts, this association with right angles led to its use in terms for rectangles and matrices, reflecting a shift from a physical tool to a conceptual framework of order and calculation.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
做人要懂规矩。
这个图形是矩形。
他画了一个矩形。
学校有很多规矩。
数学里常用矩阵。
工程师计算了力矩。
这个矩阵运算很复杂。
物理学家用力矩分析旋转。