实干 (shí gàn) — to do solid work; to take real action

Definition

实干 (shí gàn) means 'to do solid, hands-on work' — focused on real action and practical results rather than talk. Often used in formal or workplace contexts.

verb
to do solid workto take real action

Examples

  • 实干，。
    Dà jiā dōu yào shí gàn, yòng xíng dòng zhèng míng zì jǐ.
    Everyone must do solid work and prove themselves through action.
  • 实干，。
    Zhǐ yǒu shí gàn, cái néng shí xiàn wǒ men de mù biāo.
    Only by taking real action can we achieve our goals.
  • 实干，。
    Tā měi tiān zài gōng dì shàng shí gàn, cóng bù tōu lǎn.
    He does solid work at the construction site every day and never slacks off.

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.

实shísolid; practical
干gānto do; to work

实干 combines 实, solid or practical, with 干, to do, giving the sense of taking real action rather than empty talk.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 實; 实 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánroof
  • 周周zhōucarved jade
  • 貝貝bèishellfish; cowrie

The traditional form 實 has 宀 'roof' above 周 'carved jade' and 貝 'cowrie'; the simplified 实 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 实 →

The simplified 干 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (饼干, 干杯) it is 乾; in others (干, 干活儿) (干扰) it is 幹 or 干.

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 乾; 干 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
乙乙yǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
倝
倝gàn乾gān
Same sound today
Open 干 →

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