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建设性 (jiàn shè xìng) — constructive nature; quality of being constructive and productive

Definition

A noun describing a helpful, problem-solving quality — as in 建设性意见 ('constructive suggestions') or 建设性对话 ('constructive dialogue'). It pairs naturally with 有 ('have') or 充满 ('be full of') rather than acting like an adjective on its own.

noun
constructive naturequality of being constructive and productive

Examples

  • 建设性。
    Tā de yì jiàn hěn yǒu jiàn shè xìng.
    His opinions are very constructive.
  • 建设性。
    Wǒ men xū yào gèng duō de jiàn shè xìng duì huà.
    We need more constructive dialogue.
  • ，建设性。
    Zhè cì tǎo lùn suī rán jī liè, dàn chōng mǎn le jiàn shè xìng.
    Although heated, this discussion was full of constructive input.

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.

建设construct
建jiànbuild设shèset up
联合Coordinate
性xìngnature

建设 means to build up, and 性 gives the sense of a quality or nature.

Characters in this word

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

  • 廴廴yǐn
  • 聿聿yù

The shape 建 shows 廴 and 聿, but it comes from an older drawing of a hand planting a pole into a base; the lower part of 聿 is not a brush.

Open 建 →

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 設; 设 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
埶
埶yì設shè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 設 uses 言 (speech) to show the meaning and 埶 to give the sound; this explanation is for 設, not the simplified 设.

Open 设 →

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
Abstract Concepts

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