恩泽 (ēn zé) — favor, grace, benevolence (especially from a superior or authority); (historical) imperial favor or patronage

Definition

A formal, literary noun for 'favor, grace, benevolence' — typically used for kindness or benefits bestowed by a superior (emperor, official, elder, teacher). Conveys a sense of grace received rather than earned.

noun
favorgracebenevolence (especially from a superior or authority)(historical) imperial favor or patronage

Examples

  • 恩泽，。
    Bǎi xìng gǎn niàn huáng dì de ēn zé, ān jū lè yè.
    The people were grateful for the emperor's grace and lived in peace and contentment.
  • 恩泽，。
    Yǔ lù de ēn zé zī rùn le dà dì, wàn wù fù sū.
    The grace of rain and dew moistened the earth, and all things revived.
  • 恩泽，。
    Tā shǐ zhōng míng jì lǎo shī de ēn zé, lì zhì huí bào shè huì.
    He always remembers his teacher's kindness and is determined to give back to society.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

恩ēnfavor
泽zégrace

恩 and 泽 both express kindness and grace.

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
因
因yīn恩ēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

恩 puts 因, which gives the sound, beside 心, a heart.

Open 恩 →

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 澤; 泽 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
睪
睪yì澤zé
Same sound today

The traditional form 澤 pairs 水 (water) with 睪 for the sound; the simplified 泽 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 泽 →

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