Meaning
近似 describes something that is very close to or approximately like something else, but not exactly the same. It's commonly used in mathematical, scientific, and technical contexts to indicate approximation, but also appears in everyday language when describing things that are nearly identical or very similar.
Usage
This word is frequently used in academic and technical writing, particularly in mathematics and sciences. In everyday speech, 差不多 or 类似 are more common for expressing similarity. 近似 can function as both an adjective (近似的结果 'approximate result') and a verb (近似于 'to be approximate to').
Examples
- 01这个数字只是一个近似值，不是精确的结果。, .This number is only an approximate value, not a precise result.
- 02圆周率近似于3.14，但实际上是一个无限不循环小数。, .Pi is approximately 3.14, but it is actually an infinite non-repeating decimal.
Characters
Common collocations
- 近似值approximate value
- 近似于to be approximately equal to, to approximate
- 近似计算approximate calculation
- 近似解approximate solution
Antonyms
Origin
The compound combines 近 (near/close) with 似 (to resemble), literally meaning 'closely resembling' or 'nearly similar,' which naturally extends to the meaning of approximation.