兴致 (xìng zhì) — interest, enthusiasm, mood (to do something) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

兴致 is a light, pleasant mood or enthusiasm for doing something. More casual than 激情 (intense passion) and less task-focused than 干劲/劲头 (drive for work).

noun

interestenthusiasmmood (to do something)

Easily confused

性质xìng zhìsound-alikenature (the basic or inherent features of something)

Examples

兴致。
Tā duì zhè ge huó dòng hěn yǒu xìng zhì.
He has a lot of interest in this activity.
兴致，。
Dà jiā xìng zhì hěn gāo, yì zhí liáo dào hěn wǎn.
Everyone was in high spirits and talked until late.
兴致。
Wǒ méi yǒu xìng zhì qù guàng jiē.
I'm not in the mood to go shopping.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

兴xīnginterest

兴致 brings together interest and mood, giving enthusiasm.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 興; 兴 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 興 shows four hands lifting an object; the simplified 兴 is not the form described.

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

至攵致

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攵Written in full as攴pū

Sound part声符shēngfú

至

至zhì致zhì

Same sound today

致 pairs 至, used for its sound, with 攵, written in full as 攴.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Emotions & Feelings

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