先验 (xiān yàn) — (philosophy) a priori; knowledge or principles independent of experience

Definition

A technical philosophical term (adjective or noun) for knowledge or principles that exist independently of experience — usually translated as 'a priori.' It contrasts with 后验 ('a posteriori'), which depends on experience.

noun
(philosophy) a prioriknowledge or principles independent of experience
Easily confused

Examples

  • 先验。
    Kāng dé tí chū le xiān yàn zhī shi de gài niàn.
    Kant proposed the concept of a priori knowledge.
  • ，先验。
    Zài zhé xué zhōng, xiān yàn yǔ hòu yàn shì liǎng gè jī běn gài niàn.
    In philosophy, a priori and a posteriori are two basic concepts.
  • 先验，。
    Zhè zhǒng pàn duàn shì xiān yàn de, bù xū yào jīng yàn yàn zhèng.
    This kind of judgment is a priori; it does not require empirical verification.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

先 combines 止 (foot) and 儿 (person) to show someone moving forward.

Open 先 →

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 驗; 验 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
馬馬mǎ
Sound part声符shēngfú
僉
僉qiān驗yàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 驗 pairs 馬 (horse) with 僉 for sound; the simplified 验 is a later abbreviation.

Open 验 →

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