人性 (rén xìng) — human nature | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Refers to human nature as a shared, abstract concept (good and bad sides of people in general). 性格 is one individual's personality; 本性 emphasizes the innate, true nature.

noun

human nature

Easily confused

人生rén shēnglook-alikelife (one's time on earth)
任性rén xìngsound-alikewillful, headstrong, unruly (acting on impulse or personal whim regardless of reason or consequences)

Examples

人性。
rén xìng Zhōng yǒu shàn yě yǒu è.
Human nature has both good and evil.
人性。
Xīn lǐ xué jiā yán jiū rén xìng yǐ jīng hěn duō nián le.
Psychologists have studied human nature for many years.
人性。
Huán jìng duì rén xìng de yǐng xiǎng hěn dà.
The environment has a big influence on human nature.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

Combines 人 and 性 to mean the nature or qualities that belong to humans.

Characters in this word

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

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

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

忄生性

Meaning part形符xíngfú

忄Written in full as心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

生

生shēng性xìng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

性 is built from 忄 (the heart) and 生 (a sound clue). The heart part connects the word to a person's inner nature or quality.

Appears in

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