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初衷 (chū zhōng) — original intention; initial aim

Definition

Refers to the original, underlying intention behind a decision or action — often an ideal or aspiration. Very close to 本意, but 初衷 emphasizes the heartfelt, purposeful aim at the start, while 本意 is more neutral ('actual/real meaning').

noun
original intentioninitial aim
Easily confused

Examples

  • 初衷。
    Tā zuò zhè jiàn shì de chū zhōng shì wèi le bāng zhù bié rén.
    His original intention in doing this was to help others.
  • ，初衷。
    Suī rán yù dào le kùn nan, dàn wǒ men méi yǒu wàng jì chū zhōng.
    Although we encountered difficulties, we haven't forgotten our original intention.
  • 初衷，。
    Tā jiān chí zì jǐ de chū zhōng, cóng wèi gǎi biàn.
    She stuck to her original intention and never changed.

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.

初chūinitial
衷zhōnginner intention

初 initial and 衷 inner intention combine to mean original aim.

Characters in this word

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

初 combines 衤 (clothes) and 刀 (knife), showing the start of making clothes by cutting cloth.

Open 初 →

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
衣衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
中
中zhōng衷zhōng
Same sound today

The shape of 衷 combines 衣 (clothes) and 中 (middle; center), with 中 giving the sound.

Open 衷 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Will & Intention

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