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使劲儿 (shǐ jìn ér) — to exert all one's strength; to put forth effort; to try hard

Definition

A casual, spoken verb meaning 'to put all one's effort into something', usually a physical action like pushing or running. It can be split: 使…的劲儿, unlike 努力 which is more about sustained mental effort.

verb
to exert all one's strengthto put forth effortto try hard

Examples

  • 使劲儿，。
    Nǐ shǐ jìn ér tuī, mén jiù néng dǎ kāi.
    If you push hard, the door will open.
  • 使劲儿。
    Tā shǐ jìn ér pǎo cái gǎn shàng le huǒ chē.
    He ran as hard as he could and just caught the train.
  • 使劲儿。
    Bān zhè ge xiāng zi dé shǐ jìn ér.
    You have to put in effort to move this box.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

使劲exert strength
使shǐuse劲jìnstrength
动宾Verb + object
儿érer

“使” use + “劲” strength + “儿” er gives the colloquial sense of putting out strength.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
吏
吏lì使shǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

使 pairs 亻 (person) with 吏, which pictures a hand holding something like a flag, giving the sense of a representative or ambassador.

Open 使 →

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 →

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

The shape 儿 is a simple drawing of a standing person, used as an alternate form of the character for person.

Open 儿 →
Appears in
HSK 2.0 Level 5

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