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冲劲 (chòng jìn) — drive; pioneering spirit; great enthusiasm and energy in pursuit of a goal

Definition

An abstract noun for the energetic 'drive' or push to pursue a goal — used of people, not machines. Pairs with 有 / 一股 / 十足 (e.g. 有冲劲, 一股冲劲, 冲劲十足).

noun
drivepioneering spiritgreat enthusiasm and energy in pursuit of a goal

Examples

  • 冲劲，。
    Zhè ge nián qīng rén hěn yǒu chòng jìn, chuàng yè yí dìng huì chéng gōng.
    This young person has great drive; they will definitely succeed in starting their business.
  • 冲劲，。
    Zuò xiāo shòu xū yào yì gǔ chòng jìn, bù néng pà bèi jù jué.
    Working in sales requires a pioneering spirit; you can't be afraid of rejection.
  • ，冲劲，。
    Tā suī rán jīng yàn bù duō, dàn chòng jìn shí zú, zhí dé wǒ men xué xí.
    Although he doesn't have much experience, his drive is full — he's worth learning from.

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.

冲chōngdash
劲jìnenergy

冲 conveys a rushing dash, while 劲 gives stored energy, together suggesting spirited drive.

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 衝; 冲 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 冲 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (冲, 冲动) it is 衝; in others (冲) it is 沖.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
行行xíng
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng衝chōng
Same sound today

The traditional form 衝 shows 重 inside 行, with 行 as the meaning part and 重 as the sound part; the simplified 冲 is a later shorthand.

Open 冲 →

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 →
Appears in
Personality & Traits

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