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弹性 (tán xìng) — elasticity; flexibility

Definition

弹性 covers both physical elasticity (materials stretching back) and metaphorical flexibility (policies, thinking). For toughness of material or character, use 韧性 instead.

noun
elasticityflexibility

Examples

  • 弹性。
    Zhè zhǒng cái liào de tán xìng hěn hǎo.
    This material has good elasticity.
  • 弹性。
    Gōng sī de zhèng cè hěn yǒu tán xìng.
    The company's policy is very flexible.
  • 弹性。
    Tā de xiǎng fǎ hěn yǒu tán xìng.
    His thinking is very flexible.

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.

弹tánelastic
性xìngproperty suffix

弹 gives the idea of springing, and 性 adds the sense of a property.

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 彈; 弹 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
弓弓gōng
Sound part声符shēngfú
單
單dān彈tán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 彈 pairs 弓 (bow) with the sound part 單; the simplified 弹 is a shorthand.

Open 弹 →

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 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts

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