TongTong
Sign in

异端 (yì duān) — heresy, heterodoxy (beliefs or doctrines that differ from established orthodoxy)

Definition

Used for ideas or doctrines that challenge established orthodoxy, usually with a negative judgment (heresy, heterodoxy). It implies the deviation is seen as dangerous or wrong, not just different.

noun
heresyheterodoxy (beliefs or doctrines that differ from established orthodoxy)

Examples

  • ，异端。
    Zài zhōng shì jì, xǔ duō kē xué jiā bèi jiào huì shì wéi yì duān.
    In the Middle Ages, many scientists were regarded as heretics by the church.
  • ，异端。
    Zhè zhǒng guān diǎn yǔ zhǔ liú sī xiǎng bù tóng, dàn suàn bú shàng yì duān.
    This view differs from mainstream thought, but it doesn't count as heresy.
  • 异端。
    Tā yīn wèi xuān chuán yì duān ér bèi qū zhú chū jiào pài.
    He was expelled from the sect for promoting heresy.

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.

异yìdifferent
端duānpoint

异 marks a 端 that departs from accepted doctrine.

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 異; 异 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 異 depicts a person with a mask 田 over the face, so the face looks different. The simplified 异 is a later shorthand.

Open 异 →

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
立立lì
Sound part声符shēngfú
耑
耑zhuān端duān
Same sound today

端 is made by putting 立 beside 耑. The 立 part is connected to the meaning, and 耑 gives the sound.

Open 端 →
Appears in
Religion & Belief

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