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可嘉 (kě jiā) — commendable, praiseworthy

Definition

可嘉 is a set-phrase adjective, almost always after 精神、勇气、贡献, meaning 'commendable / praiseworthy' — used in formal writing to praise someone's effort or spirit.

adjective
commendablepraiseworthy

Examples

  • 可嘉。
    Tā de yǒng qì què shí kě jiā.
    His courage is truly commendable.
  • 可嘉。
    Zhè zhǒng jīng shén shí fēn kě jiā.
    This kind of spirit is highly commendable.
  • 可嘉。
    Nǐ wèi gōng yì suǒ zuò de gòng xiàn fēi cháng kě jiā.
    The contributions you've made to public welfare are very commendable.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

可kěworthy
嘉jiāpraise

“可” gives the sense of being worthy, and “嘉” means praise, so the word means commendable.

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
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo可kě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

Open 可 →

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
壴壴zhù
Sound part声符shēngfú
加
加jiā嘉jiā
Same sound today

嘉 is built from 壴, the part tied to its sense, and 加, the part tied to its sound.

Open 嘉 →
Appears in
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