Grammar · Chapter 32
度: 'how much' inside the word
X + 度 → 'the measure of X': 密度, 力度, 湿度, 热度, 限度
度 turns a quality into a measure: how dense — 密度 'density', how strong — 力度 'strength of pressure', how wet — 湿度 'humidity', how popular — 热度, where the cap sits — 限度 'limit'. Meeting a new 度 word, look for the quality and add 'the measure of it'. A close neighbour is 率, which counts a share: 频率 'frequency'. And it is not 'degrees': in 温度 度 is about temperature, in 力度 it is not.
Examples
- 人口密度过高会给交通和住房带来压力。 Rénkǒu mìdù guò gāo huì gěi jiāotōng hé zhùfáng dài lái yālì. Excessive population density will put pressure on transport and housing.
- 妈妈按摩的力度刚刚好，我很快就睡着了。 Māma ànmó de lìdù gānggāng hǎo, wǒ hěn kuài jiù shuìzháo le. Mom's massage was just the right strength, and I soon fell asleep.
- 这个话题的热度过了几天就慢慢降低了。 Zhège huàtí de rèdù guò le jǐ tiān jiù mànmàn jiàngdī le. The buzz around this topic slowly faded after a few days.