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劣迹 (liè jì) — misdeed; evil doing

Definition

A formal written term for shameful misdeeds or wrongdoing, usually implying public exposure or moral judgment. Often paired with 曝光, 揭露, or 掩盖, and used of public figures, officials, or organizations.

noun
misdeedevil doing

Examples

  • 劣迹。
    Zhè ge zhèng kè de liè jì bèi méi tǐ bào guāng le.
    This politician's misdeeds were exposed by the media.
  • 劣迹。
    Tā nián qīng shí fàn xià de liè jì zhì jīn réng bèi rén tí qǐ.
    The misdeeds he committed in his youth are still brought up by people today.
  • 劣迹。
    Gōng sī jí lì yǎn gài guǎn lǐ céng de liè jì.
    The company tried its best to cover up the misdeeds of the management.

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.

劣lièbad
迹jìtrace or deed

劣 means bad and 迹 means trace or deed, giving bad deeds or misdeeds.

Characters in this word

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

劣 combines 少 (little/less) with 力 (strength), showing less strength, hence bad or inferior.

Open 劣 →

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
辶Written in full as辵chuòmove
Sound part声符shēngfú
朿
朿cì迹jì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

迹 pairs 辶, a movement part, with 亦, a sound part; an older form used 朿.

Open 迹 →
Appears in
Crime & Police

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