Hypotheses and samples, laws and formulas, atoms, cells and the universe.
Scientific Chinese names whole fields with endings a learner can reuse: 学 for a discipline (天文学, astronomy), 家 for the person who practises it, 子 in the small particles of chemistry (原子, 分子), where it keeps its full third tone. Many of the other words follow a piece of research from start to finish — a hypothesis (假设), a sample (样本), a control group (对照组), an analysis (分析), a conclusion (结论) — so it pays to learn them in that order.
The words
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Verb (9)
分析to analyse; analysisVerb4
我们还需要时间分析这些数据。We still need time to analyse this data.
验证to verify; to testVerb5
这个理论还需要用实验来验证。This theory still has to be tested by experiment.
Also the code a website sends you: 验证码.
证实to confirm; to prove trueVerb5
新的观测证实了这颗行星的存在。New observations confirmed that this planet exists.
推测to infer; to conjectureVerb5
科学家推测，这些石头来自月球。Scientists suspect that these rocks come from the Moon.
预测to forecast; to predictVerb5
很难准确预测地震什么时候发生。It is hard to predict exactly when an earthquake will happen.
发表to publish (an article); to make (a speech)Verb4
他的第一篇论文发表在一本医学杂志上。His first paper was published in a medical journal.
测量to measure; to surveyVerb5
工程师测量了这座桥的长度。The engineers measured the length of the bridge.
量 is second tone as a verb; as a noun, amount, it is 量.
观测to observe (with instruments); observationVerb5
天文台每天晚上都观测星空。The observatory observes the night sky every evening.
Observation with instruments; watching closely with the eyes is 观察.
论证to argue a case; to assess (a plan); argumentationVerb5
这个方案经过了专家的反复论证。This plan has been examined by experts again and again.
Noun (30)
假设hypothesis; to supposeNoun5
实验的结果证明了我们的假设。The results of the experiment confirmed our hypothesis.
假 reads jiǎ here; in 放假 it is jià.
实验室laboratoryNoun4
她每天晚上都在实验室工作到很晚。She works in the lab until late every evening.
样本sample; specimenNoun5
研究人员一共收集了五百个样本。The researchers collected five hundred samples in all.
结论conclusionNoun5
现在下结论还太早。It is still too early to draw a conclusion.
A conclusion is drawn with 下 or 得出.
创新innovation; to innovateNoun5
没有创新，科学就不会进步。Without innovation, science will not move forward.
突破breakthrough; to break throughNoun5
这项研究在治疗方面取得了重大突破。This research has made a major breakthrough in treatment.
领域field; domainNoun5
他是这个领域最有名的专家。He is the best-known expert in this field.
模型modelNoun5
他们在电脑上建了一个气候模型。They built a climate model on the computer.
模 reads mó here; in 模样, appearance, it is mú.
变量variableNoun5
实验中每次只改变一个变量。In the experiment only one variable is changed at a time.
误差error (of measurement); margin of errorNoun5
这台仪器的误差很小。This instrument has a very small margin of error.
差 reads chā, difference, here.
文献literature (on a subject); documentsNoun5
写论文之前，要先读大量文献。Before writing a paper you first have to read a lot of the literature.
期刊journal; periodicalNoun5
图书馆订了上百种学术期刊。The library takes over a hundred academic journals.
定律law (of nature)Noun5
这条定律说明了力和运动的关系。This law describes the relation between force and motion.
A law of nature; a law passed by a parliament is 法律.
天文学astronomyNoun5
她从小就对天文学感兴趣。She has been interested in astronomy since she was a child.
基因geneNoun5
眼睛的颜色主要由基因决定。Eye colour is decided mainly by genes.
细胞cellNoun5
人的身体由无数个细胞组成。The human body is made up of countless cells.
分子moleculeNoun5
一个水分子由两个氢原子和一个氧原子组成。A water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
原子atomNoun5
一切物质都是由原子构成的。All matter is made up of atoms.
进化evolution; to evolveNoun5
这本书讲的是鸟类的进化。This book is about the evolution of birds.
统计statistics; to count upNoun5
根据统计，这条路上的事故比去年少了。According to the statistics, there have been fewer accidents on this road than last year.
物质matter; substanceNoun5
这种物质在零下二十度就会变成固体。This substance turns solid at minus twenty degrees.
Also material as opposed to spiritual: 物质生活.
元素elementNoun5
氧是地球上最常见的元素之一。Oxygen is one of the commonest elements on Earth.
引力gravity; gravitationNoun5
月球的引力只有地球的六分之一左右。The Moon's gravity is only about a sixth of the Earth's.
推理reasoning; to reason; to deduceNoun5
这个结论是通过严密的推理得出的。This conclusion was reached by rigorous reasoning.
A detective story is a 推理小说.
对照组control groupNoun5
对照组的病人没有吃新药。The patients in the control group were not given the new drug.
专利patentNoun5
她为自己的发明申请了专利。She applied for a patent on her invention.
行星planetNoun5
太阳系有八大行星。The solar system has eight planets.
行 reads xíng, to travel: a wandering star.
化石fossilNoun5
他们在山上发现了一块鱼的化石。They found the fossil of a fish up in the hills.
微生物micro-organismNoun5
土壤里生活着大量微生物。Vast numbers of micro-organisms live in the soil.
地质学geologyNoun5
学地质学的学生经常去野外考察。Geology students often go out on field trips.
