You are going to have a very inspiring Chinese lesson based on historic facts about the great and studious learner — 康熙 Kangxi, the second emperor of 清 Qīng Dynasty. You will not only learn some useful mathematical terminologies and phrases, but also be able to take a closer look at how the brilliant monarch solved his learning problem. Based on different abilities of readers, the post is arranged by the following sections:
1 Chinese text with audio
2 Chinese text with audio and pinyin
3 Annotated Chinese text with pinyin
4 Chinese text of the story with English translation and audio
5 Basic mathematical terms and their Chinese translation with audio recording
1 Chinese text with audio recording.
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
学数学解方程时，我们总会碰到“元”、“次”、“根”。不过，你知道数学术语“元”、“次”、“根” 的汉语译名是谁创造的？是鼎鼎大名的康熙皇帝。
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese1.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
康熙皇帝是一位好学的君主，他曾拜南怀仁等传教士为师，学习天文、数学、地理，还学拉丁文。康熙聪颖过人，但是听外籍教师讲课并不轻松。因为南怀仁等人的汉语能力有限，日常会话还不错，可是将高深的科学知识表达出来就不那么简单了。
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese2.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
不过，康熙皇帝学习很认真，也很有耐心。一遍听不懂，就请老师再讲一遍，直至真正弄懂为止。南怀仁在讲方程式时句子冗长，发音又不清楚，常把康熙皇帝搞得团团转。他想了又想，怎样才能让老师数学讲得容易懂呢？他想到了一个好方法。他向南怀仁建议，将未知数翻译为“元”，最高次数翻译为“次”，使方程左右两边相等的未知数的值翻译为“根”或“解。” 他的老师南怀仁拿笔认真地记了下来，随即用这些新创术语换下自己原先使用的词语：求二“元”一“次”方程的“根” 如此一来果然学习效率提高很多。南怀仁惊讶的看著康熙，突然一下子将康熙紧紧抱住：“我读书和教书几十年，无论是老师还是学生，还从来没见过一个像您这样肯动脑筋的人！” 康熙皇帝创造的这几个数学术语，十分容易理解和记忆，一直到今天还是被人使用。
2. Chinese text with pinyin and audio recording.
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
学[xué] 数学[shù xué] 解[jiě] 方程[fāng chéng] 时[shí] ，我们[wǒ men] 总[zǒng] 会[huì] 碰[pèng] 到[dào] “元[yuán] ”、“次[cì] ”、“根[gēn] ”。不过[bù guò] ，你[nǐ] 知道[zhī dao] 数学[shù xué] 术语[shù yǔ] “元[yuán] ”、“次[cì] ”、“根[gēn] ” 的[de] 汉语[hàn yǔ] 译[yì] 名[míng] 是[shì] 谁[shéi] 创造[chuàng zào] 的[de] ？是[shì] 鼎[dǐng] 鼎[dǐng] 大名[dà míng] 的[de] 康[kāng] 熙[xī] 皇帝[huáng dì] 。
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese1.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
康[kāng] 熙[xī] 皇帝[huáng dì] 是[shì] 一[yī] 位[wèi] 好[hǎo] 学[xué] 的[de] 君主[jūn zhǔ] ，他[tā] 曾[céng] 拜[bài] 南[nán] 怀仁[huái rén] 等[děng] 传教士[chuán jiào shì] 为[wéi] 师[shī] ，学习[xué xí] 天文[tiān wén] 、数学[shù xué] 、地理[dì lǐ] ，还[hái] 学[xué] 拉丁[lā dīng] 文[wén] 。康[kāng] 熙[xī] 聪[cōng] 颖[yǐng] 过[guò] 人[rén] ，但是[dàn shì] 听[tīng] 外籍[wài jí] 教师[jiào shī] 讲课[jiǎng kè] 并不[bìng bù] 轻松[qīng sōng] 。因为[yīn wèi] 南[nán] 怀仁[huái rén] 等[děng] 人[rén] 的[de] 汉语[hàn yǔ] 能力[néng lì] 有限[yǒu xiàn] ，日常[rì cháng] 会话[huì huà] 还[hái] 不错[bù cuò] ，可是[kě shì] 将[jiāng] 高[gāo] 深[shēn] 的[de] 科学[kē xué] 知识[zhī shi] 表达[biǎo dá] 出来[chū lai] 就[jiù] 不[bù] 那么[nà me] 简单[jiǎn dān] 了[le] 。
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese2.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
不过[bù guò] ，康[kāng] 熙[xī] 皇帝[huáng dì] 学习[xué xí] 很[hěn] 认真[rèn zhēn] ，也[yě] 很[hěn] 有[yǒu] 耐心[nài xīn] 。一[yī] 遍[biàn] 听[tīng] 不懂[bù dǒng] ，就[jiù] 请[qǐng] 老师[lǎo shī] 再[zài] 讲[jiǎng] 一[yī] 遍[biàn] ，直至[zhí zhì] 真正[zhēn zhèng] 弄[lòng] 懂[dǒng] 为止[wéi zhǐ] 。南[nán] 怀仁[huái rén] 在[zài] 讲[jiǎng] 方程式[fāng chéng shì] 时[shí] 句子[jù zi] 冗[rǒng] 长[cháng] ，发音[fā yīn] 又[yòu] 不[bù] 清楚[qīng chǔ] ，常[cháng] 把[bǎ] 康[kāng] 熙[xī] 皇帝[huáng dì] 搞[gǎo] 得[dé] 团[tuán] 团[tuán] 转[zhuǎn] 。他[tā] 想[xiǎng] 了[le] 又[yòu] 想[xiǎng] ，怎样[zěn yàng] 才能[cái néng] 让[ràng] 老师[lǎo shī] 数学[shù xué] 讲[jiǎng] 得[dé] 容易[róng yì] 懂[dǒng] 呢[ne] ？他[tā] 想到[xiǎng dào] 了[le] 一个[yī gè] 好[hǎo] 方法[fāng fǎ] 。他[tā] 向南[xiàng nán] 怀仁[huái rén] 建议[jiàn yì] ，将[jiāng] 未知数[wèi zhī shù] 翻译[fān yì] 为[wéi] “元[yuán] ”，最高[zuì gāo] 次数[cì shù] 翻译[fān yì] 为[wéi] “次[cì] ”，使[shǐ] 方程[fāng chéng] 左右[zuǒ yòu] 两[liǎng] 边[biān] 相等[xiāng děng] 的[de] 未知数[wèi zhī shù] 的[de] 值[zhí] 翻译[fān yì] 为[wéi] “根[gēn] ”或[huò] “解[jiě] 。” 他[tā] 的[de] 老师[lǎo shī] 南[nán] 怀仁[huái rén] 拿[ná] 笔[bǐ] 认真[rèn zhēn] 地[de] 记[jì] 了[le] 下来[xia lai] ，随即[suí jí] 用[yòng] 这些[zhè xie] 新[xīn] 创[chuāng] 术语[shù yǔ] 换[huàn] 下[xià] 自己[zì jǐ] 原先[yuán xiān] 使用[shǐ yòng] 的[de] 词语[cí yǔ] ：求[qiú] 二[èr] “元[yuán] ”一[yī] “次[cì] ”方程[fāng chéng] 的[de] “根[gēn] ” 如此[rú cǐ] 一[yī] 来[lái] 果然[guǒ rán] 学习[xué xí] 效率[xiào lǜ] 提高[tí gāo] 很多[hěn duō] 。南[nán] 怀仁[huái rén] 惊讶[jīng yà] 的[de] 看[kàn] 著康[kāng] 熙[xī] ，突然[tū rán] 一下子[yí xià zi] 将[jiāng] 康[kāng] 熙[xī] 紧紧[jǐn jǐn] 抱[bào] 住[zhù] ：“我[wǒ] 读书[dú shū] 和[hé] 教书[jiāo shū] 几十年[jǐ shí nián] ，无论[wú lùn] 是[shì] 老师[lǎo shī] 还是[hái shì] 学生[xué sheng] ，还[hái] 从来[cóng lái] 没[méi] 见[jiàn] 过[guò] 一个[yī gè] 像[xiàng] 您[nín] 这样[zhè yàng] 肯[kěn] 动[dòng] 脑筋[nǎo jīn] 的[de] 人[rén] ！” 康[kāng] 熙[xī] 皇帝[huáng dì] 创造[chuàng zào] 的[de] 这[zhè] 几个[jǐ ge] 数学[shù xué] 术语[shù yǔ] ，十分[shí fēn] 容易[róng yì] 理解[lǐ jiě] 和[hé] 记忆[jì yì] ，一直[yì zhí] 到[dào] 今天[jīn tiān] 还是[hái shì] 被[bèi] 人[rén] 使用[shǐ yòng] 。
3 Annotated Chinese text with pinyin.
学[xué， verb, to learn or to study] 数学[shù xué, noun, math] 解[jiě, verb, to solve] 方程[fāng chéng, noun, mathematical equation ] 时[shí, noun, time] ，我们[wǒ men, pronoun, we] 总[zǒng, adverb, always] 会[huì, auxilary verb, will] 碰到[pèngdào, resultative complement, come across or run into ] “元[yuán, math term, number of variables] ”、“次[cì, math term, degree of polynomial] ”、“根[gēn,math term, root] ”。不过[bù guò, conjunction, however ] ，你[nǐ, pronoun] 知道[zhī dao, verb, to know] 数学[shù xué, noun, math] 术语[shù yǔ, noun, terminology ] “元[yuán, math term, number of variables] ”、“次[cì, math term, degree of polynomial] ”、“根[gēn,math term, root] ” 的[de, possessive particle] 汉语[hàn yǔ, pronoun, Chinese] 译[yì, noun, translation] 名[míng, noun, name] 是[shì, verb, is] 谁[shéi, question pronoun, who] 创造[chuàng zào, verb, create] 的[de, particle– here uses the 是…..的 structure] ？是[shì, verb, is] 鼎鼎大名[dǐng dǐng dà míng, an idiom means famous] 的[de, possessive pronoun] 康熙[kāng xī, Kangxi or K’ang Hsi, second Qing Emperor (1661-1722) ] 皇帝[huáng dì, noun, emperor] 。
康熙[kāng xī, Kangxi or K’ang Hsi, second Qing Emperor] 皇帝[huáng dì, noun, emperor] 是[shì, verb, is] 一[yī, number, one] 位[wèi, measure word for person] 好[hǎo, verb, love to] 学[xué, verb, learn] 的[de, particle] 君主[jūn zhǔ, monarch / sovereign] ，他[tā, pronoun, he] 曾[céng, time, once] 拜[bài, refer to 拜 师 which means to formally become an apprentice to a master] 南怀仁[nán huái rén, Father Ferdinand Verbiest (9 October 1623 – 28 January 1688) was a Flemish Jesuit missionary in China during the Qing dynasty.] 等[děng, and others] 传教士[chuán jiào shì, noun, missionary ] 为[wéi, verb, to be or as ] 师[shī, noun, teacher] ，学习[xué xí, verb, study or learn] 天文[tiān wén, noun, astronomy ] 、数学[shù xué, noun, math] 、地理[dì lǐ, noun, geography ] ，还[hái, adverb, also] 学[xué, verb, study] 拉丁[lā dīng, proper noun, Latin] 文[wén, noun, language] 。康熙[kāng xī, Kangxi or K’ang Hsi, second Qing Emperor] 聪颖[cōng yǐng, smart and intelligent] 过[guò, verb, exceed] 人[rén, noun, people] ，但是[dàn shì, conjunction, however] 听[tīng, verb, listen] 外籍[wài jí, foreign nationality ] 教师[jiào shī, noun, teacher] 讲课[jiǎng kè, verb, originally means talk class; it means lecture] 并不[bìng bù, adverb, not at all / emphatically not ] 轻松[qīng sōng, adjective, easy] 。因为[yīn wèi, conjunction, because] 南怀仁[nán huái rén, Father Ferdinand Verbiest (9 October 1623 – 28 January 1688] 等人[děng rén, and other people] 的[de, possessive particle] 汉语[hàn yǔ, noun, Chinese] 能力[néng lì, noun, ability] 有限[yǒu xiàn, has limit] ，日常[rì cháng, noun, daily/everyday] 会话[huì huà, noun, conversation] 还[hái, adverb, still] 不错[bù cuò, not bad] ，可是[kě shì, conjuction, however/but] 将[jiāng, verb, to use ] 高深[gāo shēn, profound ] 的[de, possessive particle] 科学[kē xué, noun, science] 知识[zhī shi, noun, knowlege] 表达[biǎo dá, verb, express] 出来[chū lai, verb, out] 就[jiù, then] 不[bù, negate word, not] 那么[nà me, like that/ that ] 简单[jiǎn dān, adjective, simple] 了[le, sentence final particle] 。
不过[bù guò, conjunction, however] ，康熙[kāng xī, second Qing Emperor] 皇帝[huáng dì, noun, emperor] 学习[xué xí, verb, learn or study] 很[hěn, adverb, very] 认真[rèn zhēn, serious, diligent] ，也[yě, adverb, also] 很[hěn, adverb, very] 有[yǒu, verb, have] 耐心[nài xīn, noun, patience] 。一[yī, number, one] 遍[biàn, measure word, time] 听[tīng, verb, hear] 不懂[bù dǒng, not understand] ，就[jiù, adverb, then] 请[qǐng, verb, ask] 老师[lǎo shī, noun, teacher] 再[zài, adverb, again] 讲[jiǎng, verb, talk or explain] 一[yī, number, one] 遍[biàn, time] ，直至[zhí zhì, until] 真正[zhēn zhèng, adverb, really] 弄懂[lòng dǒng, resultative complement, try to figure it out, got understood of something] 为止[wéi zhǐ, then stop] 。南怀仁[nán huái rén, Father Ferdinand Verbiest (9 October 1623 – 28 January 1688) was a Flemish Jesuit missionary in China during the Qing dynasty.] 在[zài, preposition, at] 讲[jiǎng, verb, speaking or lecturing] 方程式[fāng chéng shì, mathematical equation ] 时[shí, noun, time] 句子[jù zi, noun, sentence] 冗 长[rǒng cháng, tediously long] ，发音[fā yīn, noun, pronunciation] 又[yòu, adverb, also] 不[bù, negate word, not] 清楚[qīng chǔ, adjective, clear] ，常[cháng, often] 把[bǎ, active voice marker] 康熙[kāng xī, second emperor of Qīng Dynasty] 皇帝[huáng dì, noun, emperor] 搞得团团转[gǎo dé tuán tuán zhuǎn, resltative complement, got so very confused, like brain is spinning and spinning again and again] 。他[tā, pronoun, he] 想[xiǎng, verb, think] 了[le, particle] 又[yòu, adverb, again] 想[xiǎng, verb, think] ，怎样[zěn yàng, in what way, how to do] 才能[cái néng, will be able] 让[ràng, let] 老师[lǎo shī, noun, teacher] 数学[shù xué, noun, math] 讲[jiǎng, verb, talk or explain] 得[dé, particle after verb] 容易[róng yì, adverb, easily] 懂[dǒng, verb, understand] 呢[ne, question particle] ？他[tā, pronoun, he] 想到[xiǎng dào, verb, thought of] 了[le, particle to show action occurred] 一个[yī gè, yī one, gè measure word] 好[hǎo, adjective, good] 方法[fāng fǎ, noun, method] 。他[tā, pronoun, he] 向南[xiàng, to, preposition] 南怀仁[ nán huái rén] 建议[jiàn yì, verb, suggest] ，将[jiāng, verb, to use] 未知数[wèi zhī shù, math term, unknown variables] 翻译[fān yì, verb, translate] 为[wéi, as or to be] “元[yuán, math term, number of variables ] ”，最高[zuì gāo, the highest] 次数[cì shù, math term, degree of polynomial] 翻译[fān yì, verb, translate] 为[wéi, to be or as] “次[cì, math term, degree of polynomial] ”，使[shǐ, verb, make] 方程[fāng chéng, noun, math equation] 左右[zuǒ yòu, left and right] 两[liǎng, number, two] 边[biān, noun, side] 相等[xiāng děng, adjective, equal] 的[de, possessive particle] 未知数[wèi zhī shù, noun, unknown number] 的[de, possessive particle] 值[zhí, noun, value] 翻译[fān yì, verb, translate] 为[wéi, verb, to be or as] “根[gēn， math, root] ”或[huò, or] “解[jiě,noun, answer or solution ] 。” 他的[tā de, possessive pronoun, his] 老师[lǎo shī, noun, teacher] 南 怀仁[nán huái rén] 拿[ná, verb take] 笔[bǐ, noun, pen] 认真[rèn zhēn, adverb, seriously] 地[de, particle that got put after a verb and its complement] 记[jì, verb, jot or write] 了[le, particle showing the verb has completed] 下来[xia lai, down] ，随即[suí jí, right away] 用[yòng, verb, use] 这些[zhè xie, plural pronoun, these] 新创[xīn chuāng, newly created] 术语[shù yǔ, noun, terminology] 换下[huàn xià, verb, change to] 自己[zì jǐ, pronoun, self] 原先[yuán xiān, adverb, originally] 使用[shǐ yòng, verb, use] 的[de, particle] 词语[cí yǔ, noun, phrases] ：求[qiú, verb, seek] 二[èr, number, two] “元[yuán, math term, variable] ”一[yī, number, one] “次[cì, math term, degree of polynomial] ”方程[fāng chéng, noun, math equation] 的[de, particle] “根[gēn, math term, root] ” 如此[rú cǐ, adverb, thus] 一来[yī lái, this way] 果然[guǒ rán, as expected] 学习[xué xí, verb works as adjective, learning] 效率[xiào lǜ, noun, efficiency ] 提高[tí gāo, verb, increase] 很多[hěn duō, a lot] 。南怀仁[nán huái rén] 惊讶[jīng yà, verb, amaze ] 的[de, particle] 看[kàn, verb, look ] 著[zhe, particle]康 熙[kāng xī] ，突然[tū rán, adverb, suddenly] 一下子[yí xià zi, in one moment] 将[jiāng, active voice marker, the same as bǎ 把] 康熙[kāng xī] 紧紧[jǐn jǐn, adverb, tightly] 抱住[bào zhù, verb, hold on to (somebody or something] ：“我[wǒ, pronoun, I] 读书[dú shū, read books] 和[hé, conjunction] 教书[jiāo shū, originally it means teach books; it refers to teaching] 几十年[jǐ shí nián, originally it means several ten years; it refers to several decades] ，无论[wú lùn, no matter] 是[shì, verb, is] 老师[lǎo shī, noun teacher] 还是[hái shì, or, conjunction] 学生[xué sheng, noun, students] ，还[hái, conjunction, yet] 从来[cóng lái, never (if used in negative sentence)] 没[méi, negate word, not] 见过[jiàn guò, see] 一个[yī gè,一 number one, 个 measure word for person ] 像[xiàng, such as] 您[nín, pronoun, a respectful pronoun to refer to the second person] 这样[zhè yàng, like this] 肯[kěn, auxiliary verb, willing to] 动[dòng, verb, originally means move, here refers to use] 脑筋[nǎo jīn, noun, brain] 的[de, possessive particle] 人[rén, noun, person] ！” 康熙[kāng xī, second emperor of Qīng Dynasty ] 皇帝[huáng dì, noun, emperor] 创造[chuàng zào, verb, create] 的[de, possessive particle] 这[zhè, pronoun, this] 几个[jǐ ge, 几 a few, 个 measure words for math term] 数学[shù xué, noun, math] 术语[shù yǔ, noun, terminology] ，十分[shí fēn, adverb, really] 容易[róng yì, adjective, easy] 理解[lǐ jiě, verb, understand] 和[hé, conjunction, and] 记忆[jì yì, verb, remember] ，一直[yì zhí, conjunction, until] 到[dào, preposition, to] 今天[jīn tiān, noun, today] 还是[hái shì, still] 被[bèi, passive voice marker = V+ed] 人[rén, noun, people] 使用[shǐ yòng, verb, use] 。
4 Chinese text with pinyin and English translation.
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
学数学解方程时，我们总会碰到“元”、“次”、“根”。不过，你知道数学术语“元”、“次”、“根” 的汉语译名是谁创造的？是鼎鼎大名的康熙皇帝。
xué shùxué jiě fāngchéng shí , wǒmen zǒng huì pèngdào ” yuán ” , ” cì ” , ” gēn ” . búguò , nǐ zhīdào shùxuéshù yǔ ” yuán ” , ” cì ” , ” gēn ” de Hànyǔ yìmíng shì shéi chuàngzào de ? shì dìng dìng Dàmíng de Kāng Xī huángdì .
When studying math equations, we always will encounter “variables,” “degree of polynomial,” and “root.” However, do you know who created the Chinese translation of these math terms “variables,” “degree of polynomial,” and “root”? It is the famous Emperor Kangxi.
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese1.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
康熙皇帝是一位好学的君主，他曾拜南怀仁等传教士为师，学习天文、数学、地理，还学拉丁文。康熙聪颖过人，但是听外籍教师讲课并不轻松。因为南怀仁等人的汉语能力有限，日常会话还不错，可是将高深的科学知识表达出来就不那么简单了。
Kāng Xī huángdì shì yī wèi hǎoxué de jūnzhǔ , tā Zēng BàiNán Huáirén děng chuánjiàoshì wèi Shī , xuéxí tiānwén , shùxué , dìlǐ , hái xué Lādīngwén . Kāng Xī cōngyǐng guòrén , dànshì tīng wàijí jiàoshī jiǎngkè bìngbùqīngsōng . yīnwèi Nán Huáirén děngrén de Hànyǔ nénglì yǒuxiàn , rìcháng Huìhuà hái bùcuò , kěshì jiāng gāoshēnde kēxué zhīshi biǎodá chū lái jiù bù nàme jiǎndān le .
Emperor Kangxi was a studious monarch. He formally became an apprentice to Father Ferdinand Verbiest and other missionaries and studied astronomy, math and also learned Latin language. Kangxi’s cleverness and smartness were well above other people, however listen to the foreign teachers’ lecture was not easy, for Ferdinand Verbiest and others’ Chinese capacity is limited. Their daily conversation was not bad, but it was not that easy to express and present profound scientific knowledge.
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese2.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
不过，康熙皇帝学习很认真，也很有耐心。一遍听不懂，就请老师再讲一遍，直至真正弄懂为止。南怀仁在讲方程式时句子冗长，发音又不清楚，常把康熙皇帝搞得团团转。他想了又想，怎样才能让老师数学讲得容易懂呢？他想到了一个好方法。他向南怀仁建议，将未知数翻译为“元”，最高次数翻译为“次”，使方程左右两边相等的未知数的值翻译为“根”或“解。” 他的老师南怀仁拿笔认真地记了下来，随即用这些新创术语换下自己原先使用的词语：求二“元”一“次”方程的“根” 如此一来果然学习效率提高很多。南怀仁惊讶的看著康熙，突然一下子将康熙紧紧抱住：“我读书和教书几十年，无论是老师还是学生，还从来没见过一个像您这样肯动脑筋的人！” 康熙皇帝创造的这几个数学术语，十分容易理解和记忆，一直到今天还是被人使用。
búguò , Kāng Xī huángdì xuéxí hěn rènzhēn , yě hěn yǒu nàixīn . yībiàn tīngbùdǒng , jiù qǐng lǎoshī zàijiǎng yībiàn , zhí zhì zhēnzhèng nòng dǒng wéizhǐ . Nán Huáirén zài jiǎng fāngchéngshì shí jùzi rǒngcháng , fāyīn yòu bù qīngchu , cháng bǎ kāng xī huángdì gǎo děi tuán tuán zhuǎn . tā xiǎngle yòu xiǎng , zěnyàng cáinéng ràng lǎoshī shùxué jiǎng děi róngyìdǒng ne ? tā xiǎng dào le yī ge hǎo fāngfǎ . tā xiàng Nán Huáirén jiànyì , jiāng wèizhīshù fānyì wèi ” yuán ” , zuì gāo cìshù fānyì wèi ” cì ” , shǐ fāngchéng zuǒyòu liǎng biān xiāngděng de wèizhīshù de zhí fānyì wèi ” gēn ” huò ” jiě . ” tā de lǎoshī Nán Huáirén ná bǐ rènzhēndi jìle xiàlai , suíjí yòng zhè xiē xīn chuàng shùyǔ huàn xià zìjǐ yuánxiān shǐyòng de cíyǔ : qiú èr ” yuán ” yī ” cì ” fāngchéng de ” gēn ” rúcǐyīlái guǒrán xuéxí xiàolǜ tígāo hěn duō . Nán Huáirén jīngyà de kànzhǔ Kāng Xī , tūrán yīxiàzi jiāng Kāng Xī jǐnjǐn bàozhù : ” Wǒ dúshū hé jiāoshūjǐshí nián , wúlúnshì lǎoshī hái shì xuésheng , hái cónglái méi jiànguo yī ge xiàng nín zhèyàng kěn dòngnǎojīn de rén ! ” Kāng Xī huángdì chuàngzào de zhè jǐ ge shùxuéshù yǔ , shífēn róngyìlǐjiě hé jìyì , yīzhídào jīntiān hái shì bèi rén shǐyòng .
However, the Kangxi Emperor learned very seriously, and also was very patient. If he did not understand at the first listening, he then asked the teacher to explain it again, until he truly understood. When Ferdinand Verbiest explained equations, the sentences he used were tedious long and his pronunciation was not clear, Emperor Kangxi often got frantically confused.
He thought and thought, “How can I do to make the teacher explain math more easily for me to understand?” He thought and came up a good method. He suggested Ferdinand Verbiest to translate variables as “yuán”, the highest degree of polynomial as “cì”, and translate the value of the unknown number, which equates the left side and right side of equation as ” gēn ” or ” jiě.”
His teacher, Ferdinand Verbiest, took out a pen and carefully wrote these down, then used these newly created terms to replace those phrases he originally used: To find the root of the equation in one variable. In this way, as expectedly, Kangxi increased greatly on learning efficiency. Ferdinand Verbiest looked at Kangxi amazedly, and suddenly tightly embraced him and said: ” I have been reading and teaching for decades. Regardless of whether teachers and students, I have never seen one like you so willing to use their brains!” Emperor Kangxi’s creation of these mathematical terms is very easy to understand and remember; it is still being used till today.
5 Basic mathematical terms and their Chinese translation / How to say math terms in Mandarin Chinese
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese3.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
absolute value 绝对值 juéduì zhí
acute-angled triangle 锐角三角形 ruì jiǎo sānjiǎoxíng
addition formula 加法公式 jiāfǎ gōngshì
algebraic equation 代数方程 dàishù fāngchéng
algebraic operation 代数运算 dàishù yùnsuàn
angle of intersection 相交角；交角 xiāngjiāo jiǎo ；jiāo jiǎo
angle sum of a triangle 三角形内角和 sānjiǎoxíng nèi jiǎo hé
anti-clockwise direction 逆时针方向；返时针方向 nì shí zhēn fāngxiàng ；fǎn shí zhēn fāngxiàng
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese4.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
Arabic system 阿拉伯数字系统 ālābóshùzì xìtǒng
arc length 弧长 hú cháng
arithmetic 算术 suànshù
array 数组; 数组 shùzǔ; shùzǔ
assumption 假定；假设 jiǎdìng ；jiǎshè
axis 轴 zhóu
binary operation 二元运算 èr yuán yùnsuàn
binomial theorem 二项式定理 èrxiàngshì dìnglǐ
bisector 等分线 ；平分线 děngfēnxiàn ；píngfēn xiàn
calculator 计算器；计算 Jìsuànqì ；jìsuàn
calculus 微积分学 wēijīfēnxué
centripedal force force 向心力 xiàng xīn lì
chart 图；图表 tú ；túbiǎo
clockwise direction 顺时针方向 shùnshízhēnfāngxiàng
combination 组合 zǔhé
common denominator 同分母；公分母 tóng fēnmǔ ；gōngfēn mǔ
common factor 公因子 gōng yīnzǐ
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/advanced-Chinese5.mp3|titles=advanced Chinese]
compasses 圆规 yuánguī
computation 计算 jìsuàn
congruent triangles 全等三角形 quán děng sānjiǎoxíng
corresponding sides 对应边 duìyìng biān
counter clockwise direction 逆时针方向；返时针方向 nì shí zhēn fāngxiàng ；fǎn shí zhēn fāngxiàng
cube root 立方根 lìfānggēn
cylinder 柱；圆柱体 yuánzhù tǐ
equal 相等 xiāngděng
equation in one unknown 一元方程 yīyuánfāngchéng
equation in two unknowns
(variables) 二元方程 èr yuán fāngchéng
equilateral triangle 等边三角形 děng biān sānjiǎoxíng
expression 式；数式 shì ；shǔ shì
fraction 分数 fēnshù
geometry 几何；几何学 jǐhé ；jǐhéxué
Hindu-Arabic numeral 阿拉伯数字 ālābóshùzì
infinitely many 无穷多 wúqióng duō
Math terms are endless! Let’s stop at infinitely many 🙂
康熙王朝经典片段-痛斥贪官 (Historic drama show) Kangxiwangzhao (Kangxi Dynasty) classic clips – denounced the corrupt officials
INFINITE – Paradise MV [english subs + romanization + hangul]
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