上劲 (shàng jìn) — to put energy into, to do with gusto, to get really into something

Definition

上劲 (shàng jìn) means to throw yourself into something with energy and focus — 'to get really into it.' Read as 'to put gusto in', not 'to be attracted to.'

verb
to put energy intoto do with gustoto get really into something
Easily confused

Examples

  • 上劲，。
    Tā dǎ yóu xì tè bié shàng jìn, yì wán jiù shì jǐ gè xiǎo shí.
    He really gets into gaming — once he starts, he plays for hours.
  • ，。
    Nǐ shàng shén me jìn a, zhè shì r jí bù lái de.
    Why are you putting so much energy into this? It can't be rushed.
  • 上劲，。
    Tā xué xí hěn shàng jìn, měi tiān dōu xué dào hěn wǎn.
    She studies with great gusto, studying until late every day.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

上shàngapply
劲jìnenergy

上 (apply) and 劲 (energy) together mean putting energy into an activity.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 勁; 劲 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng勁jìn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 勁 pairs 力, meaning strength, with 巠, which gives the sound; the simplified 劲 is a shorthand and its parts are not the original ones.

Open 劲 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.