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China Terminology ›› 2019, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (4): 48-50.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8578.2019.04.008

• Discussions and Contentions • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Number and Quantity, Numeral and Quantifier, Constant Number and Constant Quantity

YANG Dawei   

  • Received:2019-06-17 Online:2019-08-25 Published:2019-09-02

Abstract:

According to the Chinese Terms in Physics (2019) and the CODATA Recommended Values of the Fundamental Physical Constants: 2018 and the dimensional analysis, and comparing Chinese and Western language characteristics, corresponding the “number” and “quantity” to the “numeral” and “quantifier”, this paper discusses the principle to distinguish the “constant” as “number” or as “quantity”. It is clear that when the word “constant” is translated into Chinese, it should be translated into “constant quantity” if the parameter has dimensions (units), otherwise as “constant number”. It shows that the difference between “constant number” and “constant quantity” is clear and normative in the Chinese technical terms.

Key words: constant, Chinese scientific terminology

CLC Number: