"数"与"量","数词"与"量词",以及"常数"与"常量"

根据《物理学名词》(2019)和国际科技术语委员会(CODATA)推荐的“量表(2018)”以及量纲分析,并且通过中西语言特点对比,由“数”与“量”谈及“数词”与“量词”,论述了区别“常数”与“常量”的原则,表明将“constant”一词译为中文时,如果它所代表的物理量有量纲,则应译为“常量”,反之则译为“常数”。说明在中文科技术语中,常数与常量的区别是明确的、可规范的。

Number and Quantity,Numeral and Quantifier,Constant Number and Constant Quantity

According to the Chinese Terms in Physics (2019) and the CODATA Recommended Values of the Fundamental Physical Constants: 2018 and the dimensional analysis, and comparing Chinese and Western language characteristics, corresponding the “number” and “quantity” to the “numeral” and “quantifier”, this paper discusses the principle to distinguish the “constant” as “number” or as “quantity”. It is clear that when the word “constant” is translated into Chinese, it should be translated into “constant quantity” if the parameter has dimensions (units), otherwise as “constant number”. It shows that the difference between “constant number” and “constant quantity” is clear and normative in the Chinese technical terms.