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属性 (shǔ xìng) — attribute, property

Definition

A formal/technical term for an 'attribute' or 'property' of something (a program, a material, a person). 特性 focuses on a defining characteristic; 性 is just a noun-forming suffix.

noun
attributeproperty

Examples

  • 属性，。
    Zhè ge chéng xù de shǔ xìng hěn duō, nǐ kě yǐ zì jǐ tiáo zhěng.
    This program has many attributes; you can adjust them yourself.
  • 属性，。
    Měi gè rén dōu yǒu zì jǐ de shǔ xìng, bú yào qīng yì bǐ jiào.
    Everyone has their own attributes; don't compare easily.
  • 属性。
    Kē xué jiā yán jiū le zhè zhǒng cái liào de wù lǐ shǔ xìng.
    Scientists have studied the physical properties of this material.

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.

属shǔbelong
性xìngnature

属 refers to belonging and 性 refers to nature, together naming a quality that belongs to something.

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 屬; 属 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
㞑Written in full as尾wěitail
Sound part声符shēngfú
蜀
蜀shǔ屬shǔ
Same sound today

The traditional form 屬 pairs 㞑 (tail) with 蜀 as a sound part; the simplified 属 is a shorthand.

Open 属 →

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
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
生
生shēng性xìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

性 is built from 忄 (the heart) and 生 (a sound clue). The heart part connects the word to a person's inner nature or quality.

Open 性 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract Concepts

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.