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出息 (chū xi) — future prospects; promise (in the sense of having a bright future)

Definition

出息 is a noun for a person's future promise or potential — almost always used about people, often in 有出息 ('promising') or 没出息 ('no future'). Unlike 前途 or 前程, it emphasizes a person's character and effort, not just career outlook.

noun
future prospectspromise (in the sense of having a bright future)

Examples

  • ，出息。
    Zhè hái zi cóng xiǎo jiù hěn nǔ lì, jiāng lái yí dìng yǒu chū xi.
    This child has worked hard since childhood and will surely have a bright future.
  • ，。
    Tā zhěng tiān yóu shǒu hào xián, zhēn méi chū xi.
    He loafs around all day — he really has no future.
  • 出息。
    Fù mǔ dōu xī wàng hái zi néng chéng wéi yǒu chū xi de rén.
    Parents all hope their children can become promising individuals.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

出chūproduce
息xīinterest; growth

“出” means producing, “息” refers to interest or growth, together they picture something yielding prospects or profit.

Characters in this word

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

出 combines 止 (foot) and 凵 (cave) to show a foot stepping out of a cave.

Open 出 →

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

In 息, 自 is nose and 心 is heart, showing breath or life passing through one's nose.

Open 息 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract ConceptsSuccess & Failure

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