堂堂 (táng táng) — dignified; imposing (of appearance or demeanor)…

Definition

堂堂 is a bound form meaning 'dignified and imposing' in appearance (堂堂正派) or 'high-aspiring, grand' in vision (堂堂事业). It only appears as a modifier — never stands alone.

bound form

dignifiedimposing (of appearance or demeanor)having high aspirations and boldness of vision (of a man)

Examples

堂堂，。
Tā cháng dé táng táng yì biǎo rén cái, hěn yǒu lǐng dǎo qì zhì.
He has a dignified and imposing appearance, with a strong leadership aura.
堂堂，。
Zhè wèi jiāng jūn táng táng zhèng pài, shēn shòu shì bīng ài dài.
This general is dignified and upright, deeply loved by his soldiers.
堂堂，。
Tā lì zhì zuò yì fān táng táng shì yè, zào fú shè huì.
He aspires to build a grand and noble career that benefits society.

Origin

Single-morpheme word

构词法gòucífǎ

叠音diéyīnRepeated syllable

One syllable written twice as a single unit of meaning; neither half stands alone.

堂táng

The repeated characters together describe a dignified, imposing manner; neither one alone carries this meaning.

Sound-only characters

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

土土tǔ

Sound part声符shēngfú

尚

尚shàng堂táng

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

堂 uses 土 as a ground/earth part and 尚 for sound.

Open 堂 →