TongTong
Sign in

情有独钟 (qíng yǒu dú zhōng) — to have a special fondness for something; to be particularly devoted to

Definition

A set phrase meaning one's heart is fixed on one thing — 'to have a special fondness for.' Usually takes 对 + object and implies devotion, not just liking.

verb
to have a special fondness for somethingto be particularly devoted to

Examples

  • 情有独钟。
    Tā duì zhōng guó chuán tǒng wén huà qíng yǒu dú zhōng.
    He has a special fondness for traditional Chinese culture.
  • ，情有独钟。
    Zài xǔ duō yán sè zhōng, tā duì lán sè qíng yǒu dú zhōng.
    Among many colors, she has a particular fondness for blue.
  • 情有独钟，。
    Zhè jiā cān tīng de cài wǒ qíng yǒu dú zhōng, měi gè yuè dōu yào lái yí cì.
    I have a special fondness for the dishes at this restaurant; I come once a month.

Origin

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
青
青qīng情qíng
Same sound today

情 shows 心 (heart) beside 青, which gives the sound. The heart part points to feelings and inner states.

Open 情 →

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
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

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 獨; 独 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犭Written in full as犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
蜀
蜀shǔ獨dú
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 獨 pairs 犬 (dog) with 蜀, which gives the sound; the simplified 独 is a shorthand.

Open 独 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 钟 →
Appears in
Emotions & FeelingsIdioms & Set Phrases

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.