强心剂 (qiáng xīn jì) — cardiac stimulant, heart stimulant (medical); (figurative) a shot in the arm, something that revitalizes or gives a strong boost

Definition

Literally a cardiac stimulant (medical). Figuratively, any news, policy, or event that acts as a 'shot in the arm' — a strong boost that lifts confidence or energy.

noun
cardiac stimulantheart stimulant (medical)(figurative) a shot in the arm, something that revitalizes or gives a strong boost

Examples

  • 强心剂。
    Yī shēng gěi tā zhù shè le yì zhēn qiáng xīn jì.
    The doctor gave him an injection of a heart stimulant.
  • 强心剂。
    Zhè ge hǎo xiāo xi xiàng yí jì qiáng xīn jì gěi quán gōng sī dài lái le xìn xīn.
    This good news was like a shot in the arm, bringing confidence to the whole company.
  • 强心剂。
    Zhèng fǔ de jiǎn shuì zhèng cè chéng le jīng jì de qiáng xīn jì.
    The government's tax-cut policy became a stimulus for the economy.

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.

强心strengthen the heart
强qiángstrengthen心xīnheart
动宾Verb + object
剂jìpreparation

强心 says strengthening the heart, and 剂 is the preparation.

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 強; 强 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 強 pairs an insect component with a sound component; this explains 強, not the simplified 强.

Open 强 →

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

The shape of 心 comes from a drawing of a heart, now highly stylized.

Open 心 →

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 劑; 剂 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
刂Written in full as刀dāo
Sound part声符shēngfú
齊
齊qí劑jì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 劑, 齊 gives the sound and 刂 (刀, a knife) shows the meaning. The simplified 剂 is a later shorthand.

Open 剂 →

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