历史感 (lì shǐ gǎn) — sense of history, historical atmosphere, historical resonance

Definition

The feel or atmosphere of something old and historically significant — the quality a place or object has when it carries visible traces of the past. Used in writing about culture, heritage, and architecture.

noun
sense of historyhistorical atmospherehistorical resonance

Examples

  • 历史感。
    Zhè zuò gǔ chéng hěn yǒu lì shǐ gǎn.
    This ancient city has a strong sense of history.
  • 历史感。
    Lǎo zhào piàn lǐ chōng mǎn le lì shǐ gǎn.
    The old photos are full of historical atmosphere.
  • 历史感。
    Cān guān bó wù guǎn néng ràng rén gǎn shòu dào shēn hòu de lì shǐ gǎn.
    Visiting a museum lets you feel a deep sense of history.

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.

历史history
历lìpast史shǐhistory
联合Side by side
感gǎnfeeling

历史 gives history and 感 gives a feeling, together a sense of history.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 歷; 历 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 历 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (简历, 经历) it is 歷; in others (日历) it is 曆.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
止止zhǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
厤
厤lì歷lì
Same sound today

The form 歷 pairs 止 with the sound part 厤.

Open 历 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old drawing showed someone holding a flag-like or writing tool, indicating the act of recording events; the exact inner shape is unclear.

Open 史 →

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
咸
咸xián感gǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

感 pairs 咸, which gives the sound, with 心, the heart, for feeling.

Open 感 →

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