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凝固 (níng gù) — to solidify; to congeal; to set (of liquids, concrete, etc.); (figurative) to become fixed or frozen (of attention, expression); rapt

Definition

凝固 means a liquid turns into a solid (oil, concrete, blood) — also used for attention or expression becoming 'frozen'. 凝结 focuses on gas-to-liquid condensation or ideas crystallizing; 冻结 is for freezing water, assets, or prices.

verb
to solidifyto congealto set (of liquids, concrete, etc.)(figurative) to become fixed or frozen (of attention, expression)rapt

Examples

  • 凝固。
    Shuǐ ní xū yào jǐ gè xiǎo shí cái néng níng gù.
    Concrete needs several hours to set.
  • 凝固。
    Yóu zài lěng de dì fāng huì níng gù.
    Oil solidifies in cold places.
  • 凝固，。
    Tā tīng dé níng gù le, yí jù huà yě shuō bù chū lái.
    He listened with rapt attention, unable to say a word.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

凝níngcoagulate
固gùsolid

凝 and 固 both point to becoming solid, so the word expresses solidifying or freezing.

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
冫Written in full as仌bīngice
Sound part声符shēngfú
疑
疑yí凝níng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

凝 pairs 冫 (ice, also written 仌) with 疑, which gives the sound.

Open 凝 →

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
囗囗wéi
Sound part声符shēngfú
古
古gǔ固gù
Same sound today

固 combines 囗, which relates to the meaning, with 古, which gives the sound.

Open 固 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Change & ProcessPhysics & Chemistry

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