堪称 (kān chēng) — can be rated as; can be said to be (formal, oft…

Definition

堪称 (kān chēng) is a formal, written verb meaning 'can be rated as / can be said to be,' almost always used to praise. Compared to 可谓, it is stronger and more evaluative, almost like 'deserves to be called'.

verb

can be rated ascan be said to be (formal, often with praise)

Examples

堪称。
Zhè zuò jiàn zhù kān chēng xiàn dài yì shù de jié zuò.
This building can be rated as a masterpiece of modern art.
堪称。
Tā de yǎn jiǎng kān chēng yí cì sī xiǎng qǐ méng.
His speech can be said to be an intellectual enlightenment.
堪称。
Zhè bù diàn yǐng kān chēng nián dù zuì jiā zuò pǐn.
This film can be rated as the best work of the year.

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.

堪kāncan/able

称chēngcall/rate

堪 means can or able, and 称 means to call or rate, so together they mean can be called or rated as.

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.

土甚堪

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔearth

Sound part声符shēngfú

甚

甚shèn堪kān

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 土 is earth. The right part 甚 gives the sound and also hints at something extreme, matching the old idea of a heavy earthen protrusion whose weight one bears.

Open 堪 →

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.

Open 称 →