经度

• Pinyin: jīng dù
• Hanzi breakdown: 经 = lengthwise, longitude; 度 = degree, measure

Meaning

Longitude. The angular distance east or west from the prime meridian.

A geographical term used in navigation, cartography, and earth sciences. Paired with 纬度 (latitude) to specify locations on Earth. Measured in degrees, with the prime meridian (本初子午线) at 0 degrees.

Examples

1. 北京位于东经一百一十六度左右。 Beijing is located at approximately 116 degrees east longitude.
2. 经度和纬度是确定地球上任何位置的基本坐标。 Longitude and latitude are the basic coordinates for determining any location on Earth.
3. 船长根据经度变化计算出我们已经航行了多远。 The captain calculated how far we had sailed based on the change in longitude.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, navigation, science

Tone: technical

Do Say

• 东经/西经。(East longitude / West longitude.)
• 经度是多少？(What is the longitude?)

Don't Say

• 经度很长 (Don't describe longitude as 长 (long) — it's measured in degrees, not length; use 东经XX度 format)

Origin & History

Composed of 经 (longitude; to pass through lengthwise) + 度 (degree; measure). 经 originally meant warp threads running lengthwise, hence north-south lines.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Technical/educational contexts