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切实 (qiè shí) — practical, realistic, feasible

Definition

切实 describes actions or measures that are both practical and carried out earnestly — 'concrete and effective', stronger than 实际 (just 'realistic/practical'). Pairs with verbs like 落实, 做好, 解决.

adjective
practicalrealisticfeasible

Examples

  • 切实。
    Zhè ge fāng àn hěn qiè shí.
    This plan is very practical.
  • 切实。
    Wǒ men xū yào yí gè qiè shí de jiě jué fāng fǎ.
    We need a practical solution.
  • 切实？
    Zhè ge jiàn yì gòu qiè shí ma?
    Is this suggestion practical enough?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

切qièclose/earnest
实shísolid/real

切 and 实 together suggest being close to reality and solid, hence practical and feasible.

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
刀刀dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
七
七qī切qiè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 切, the 刀 (knife) part is joined to 七, which gives the sound.

Open 切 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 實; 实 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánroof
  • 周周zhōucarved jade
  • 貝貝bèishellfish; cowrie

The traditional form 實 has 宀 'roof' above 周 'carved jade' and 貝 'cowrie'; the simplified 实 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 实 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Good & Bad

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