矢量

shǐliàng
noun #33,922

Meanings

  1. 1 vector (mathematics, physics)
  2. 2 vector quantity (with magnitude and direction)

Examples

HSK 7-9
Sùdù shì shǐliàng, sùlǜ shì biāoliàng.
Velocity is a vector; speed is a scalar.
HSK 7-9
Zhè zhāng tú shì shǐliàng tú, fàngdà búhuì shīzhēn.
This image is a vector graphic - zooming in won't distort it.

Tips

memory
originally means 'arrow' - and an arrow has both a length (magnitude) and a direction it points. So 矢量 = 'arrow quantity' = a vector. The contrasting 标量 (scalar) uses (mark/measure) - just a number, no direction.
usage
Technical/scientific term. In math classes, physics, and graphics software (矢量 vector graphic) you'll see this; in everyday speech people don't say it.

Stroke Order

shǐ
liàng