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感化 (gǎn huà) — to reform (someone) through persuasion and example; to influence for the better

Definition

感化 means to win someone over gradually through warmth, sincerity, or moral example — not through force or argument. The object is usually a person (or their attitude/mind).

verb
to reform (someone) through persuasion and exampleto influence for the better

Examples

  • 感化。
    Lǎo shī yòng ài xīn gǎn huà le zhè ge xué shēng.
    The teacher reformed this student through love and care.
  • 感化。
    Tā de zhēn chéng zhōng yú gǎn huà le nà ge gù zhí de rén.
    His sincerity finally changed that stubborn person.
  • 感化。
    Zhè bù jì lù piàn shì tú gǎn huà rén men duì huán bǎo de tài dù.
    This documentary tries to transform people's attitudes toward environmental protection.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

感gǎninfluence
化huàtransform

感 and 化 work side by side: moving someone’s feelings and transforming their behavior.

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
咸
咸xián感gǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

感 pairs 咸, which gives the sound, with 心, the heart, for feeling.

Open 感 →

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

化 shows two person figures, one upright and one upside down, to give the idea of reversal or change.

Open 化 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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