正弦

正

zhèng

弦

xián

(math.) sine

Characters and words in 正弦

正

zhe̅ng = zh + (e)ng1

first month of the lunar year

正

zhèng = zh + (e)ng4

straight / upright / proper / main / principal / to correct / to rectify / exactly / just (at that time) / right (in that place) / (math.) positive

正 = 一 + 止 : Mnemonic symbol: a stick-figure with straight lines. James II of England (zh) really has to use the engine's bathroom ((e)ng4), but there's a stick-figure (正) blocking the stalls with a barrier (止). The stick-figure measures with a flute (一) whether James is tall enough to go. James stands very straight (正) to make himself as tall as possible.

弦

xián = xi + an2

bow string / string of musical instrument / watchspring / chord (segment of curve) / hypotenuse / CL:根[gen1]

弦 = 弓 + 玄 : Marie Curie (xi) is getting trapped by black lava (玄) in the anthill's kitchen (an2) and all she has is a composite bow (弓). She plucks the string (弦) of her bow so that the chord (弦) resonates with the lava, causing it to stop its flow.