战斗性 (zhàn dòu xìng) — militancy, combativeness

Definition

A noun meaning the quality of being militant or combative — describes how forceful and sharp someone's words, attitude, or actions are when confronting an opponent or pushing a cause. Often carries a sense of vigor and resolve, not literal fighting.

noun
militancycombativeness

Examples

  • 战斗性。
    Tā de fā yán chōng mǎn le zhàn dòu xìng.
    His speech was full of militancy.
  • 战斗性。
    Bù duì bǎo chí le gāo dù de zhàn dòu xìng.
    The troops maintained a high level of combativeness.
  • 战斗性，。
    Zhè fèn bào gào quē fá zhàn dòu xìng, bú gòu jiān ruì.
    This report lacks militancy; it's not sharp enough.

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.

战斗fight
战zhànfight斗dòufight
联合Side by side
性xìngquality

战斗 means fight, and 性 gives the sense of a combative quality.

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
戈戈gē
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn战zhàn
Same sound today

战 pairs 占, which gives its sound, with 戈, a weapon.

Open 战 →

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

The shape of 斗 originally showed a ladle-shaped dipper or cup used to measure grain, held in a hand.

Open 斗 →

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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