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举止 (jǔ zhǐ) — bearing, manner, demeanor

Definition

举止 refers to a person's overall bearing and manner — how they carry themselves in action. Among siblings, 神态 is more about facial expression, while 风度/风范 stress a person's stylish or admirable style.

noun
bearingmannerdemeanor

Examples

  • 举止。
    Tā de jǔ zhǐ dà fāng dé tǐ.
    Her bearing is generous and appropriate.
  • 举止。
    Zài zhèng shì chǎng hé yào zhù yì zì jǐ de jǔ zhǐ.
    In formal occasions, pay attention to your manner.
  • 举止。
    Tā de jǔ zhǐ xiǎn de hěn zì xìn.
    His demeanor appears very confident.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

举jǔmovement
止zhǐstopping

举 and 止 cover moving and stopping, so it refers to a person's bearing and behavior.

Characters in this word

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 舉; 举 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
與
與yǔ舉jǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 舉 pairs 與, which gives the sound, with 手, a hand; the simplified 举 is a later shorthand.

Open 举 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

止 was drawn as a footprint pointing up, with three toes and a sole, originally showing a foot.

Open 止 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Personality & Traits

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