实用主义 (shí yòng zhǔ yì) — pragmatism (philosophical doctrine)

Definition

A philosophical doctrine holding that the meaning or truth of ideas is judged by their practical results. Not to be confused with the everyday sense of 实用 ('practical, useful'), which describes tools and skills rather than a school of thought.

noun
pragmatism (philosophical doctrine)

Examples

  • 实用主义。
    Xǔ duō zhé xué jiā dōu yán jiū guò shí yòng zhǔ yì.
    Many philosophers have studied pragmatism.
  • 实用主义。
    Zhè zhǒng zuò fǎ de bèi hòu shì shí yòng zhǔ yì sī xiǎng.
    Behind this approach is a pragmatic way of thinking.
  • 实用主义。
    shí yòng zhǔ yì Zhǔ zhāng yòng shí jiàn lái jiǎn yàn lǐ lùn.
    Pragmatism advocates testing theories through practice.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

实用practical use
实shísolid用yònguse
偏正Modifier + head
主义doctrine
主zhǔ义yì

实用 means practical use, and 主义 names a doctrine or school of thought.

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 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

Open 用 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

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 義; 义 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
我
我wǒ義yì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 義 has 我 giving the sound and 羊 meaning good or auspicious; the simplified 义 is a later abbreviation.

Open 义 →

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