坚称 (jiān chēng) — to assert positively, to insist (on a claim) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

坚称 is a formal verb meaning 'to insist firmly / assert positively' (often against evidence or doubt). Stronger and more written than 坚持, which means 'to persist in' an action or stance rather than to assert a claim.

verb

to assert positivelyto insist (on a claim)

Examples

坚称。
Tā jiān chēng zì jǐ méi yǒu zuò cuò shì.
He insists that he did nothing wrong.
，坚称。
Jǐn guǎn zhèng jù bù zú, tā réng rán jiān chēng zì jǐ de guān diǎn.
Despite insufficient evidence, he still insists on his own viewpoint.
坚称。
Lǜ shī jiān chēng dāng shì rén shì wú gū de.
The lawyer insists that the client is innocent.

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.

坚 (firmly) and 称 (claim) combine to mean assert something firmly.

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 堅; 坚 is its simplified writing.

臤土堅

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

臤

臤qiān堅jiān

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 堅 pairs 臤, giving the sound, with 土, earth, giving the sense; the simplified 坚 is a later shorthand.

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 稱; 称 is its simplified writing.

禾爯稱

Meaning part形符xíngfú

禾禾hérice

Sound part声符shēngfú

爯

爯chēng稱chēng

Same sound today

The traditional form 稱 pairs 禾 (rice) with 爯, a part giving the sound; it is explained as measuring rice. The simplified 称 is a later shorthand.

Appears in

Communication & Speech

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