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忠实 (zhōng shí) — (adjective) faithful, loyal; (verb) to be faithful to, to adhere to

Definition

忠实 is a faithful, loyal quality that can describe a person or, with 地, how closely something (like a translation or record) sticks to the original — broader than 忠贞 (steadfast in love or duty). As a verb, 忠实于 ≈ 忠于 (be faithful to a person or ideal).

adjective
faithfulloyal
verb
to be faithful toto adhere to

Examples

  • 忠实。
    Tā shì yí gè zhōng shí de péng you.
    He is a faithful friend.
  • 忠实。
    Zhè běn xiǎo shuō zhōng shí dì jì lù le lì shǐ.
    This novel faithfully records history.
  • 忠实。
    Tā yì shēng dōu zhōng shí yú zì jǐ de lǐ xiǎng.
    He was faithful to his ideals all his life.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

忠zhōngloyal
实shísincere

Loyalty and sincerity together mean faithful and dependable.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
中
中zhōng忠zhōng
Same sound today

忠 pairs 心, meaning heart, with 中, which gives its sound.

Open 忠 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 實; 实 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánroof
  • 周周zhōucarved jade
  • 貝貝bèishellfish; cowrie

The traditional form 實 has 宀 'roof' above 周 'carved jade' and 貝 'cowrie'; the simplified 实 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 实 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Personality & Traits

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