悟性 (wù xìng) — innate comprehension ability; power of insight

Definition

Innate ability to understand things quickly — how fast someone 'gets it' on their own. Common with 高 (高悟性) or 好 (悟性好); describes natural talent for grasping ideas.

noun
innate comprehension abilitypower of insight
Easily confused

Examples

  • 悟性，。
    Tā de wù xìng hěn gāo, xué dōng xī hěn kuài.
    His comprehension ability is very high; he learns things quickly.
  • 悟性。
    Xué xí yǔ yán xū yào yí dìng de wù xìng.
    Learning a language requires a certain level of comprehension ability.
  • 悟性，。
    Lǎo shī kuā tā wù xìng hǎo, yì diǎn jiù tōng.
    The teacher praised her for her good comprehension; she gets it with just a hint.

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.

悟wùunderstand
性xìngquality

悟 gives the sense of understanding, and 性 gives the sense of a quality or capacity.

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xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
吾
吾wú悟
Same sound today

悟 is made from 忄, a side form of 心, and 吾, which supplies the sound.

Open 悟 →

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 →

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