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性能 (xìng néng) — (noun) performance (of a machine, device, system, or software)

Definition

性能 refers to how well a machine, device, or software runs (speed, stability, capacity). Pairs naturally with 电器, and contrasts with 功能 ('what it can do') and 绩效 ('results at work').

noun
performance (of a machine, device, system, or software)

Examples

  • 性能。
    Zhè tái jī qì de xìng néng fēi cháng wěn dìng.
    The performance of this machine is very stable.
  • 性能。
    Zhè kuǎn qì chē de xìng néng bǐ shàng yí dài tí gāo le bù shǎo.
    The performance of this car model has improved a lot compared to the previous generation.
  • 性能，。
    Xīn ruǎn jiàn de xìng néng hěn qiáng, yùn xíng fēi cháng liú chàng.
    The new software has strong performance and runs very smoothly.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

性xìngcharacteristics
能néngabilities

The 性 (characteristics) and 能 (abilities) together describe how well a device works.

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
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 →

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

能 is an old picture of a bear, showing two paws and a face with an open mouth.

Open 能 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Technology & Engineering

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