景况 (jǐng kuàng) — situation; circumstances | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A slightly formal, written-style word for 'situation' or 'circumstances', often used for economic or market conditions. Similar to 情况 but more literary.

noun

situationcircumstances

Examples

景况。
Tā de jīng jì jǐng kuàng bú tài hǎo.
His financial situation is not very good.
景况。
Dāng qián de shì chǎng jǐng kuàng lìng rén dān yōu.
The current market circumstances are concerning.
景况，。
Zài nà zhǒng jǐng kuàng xià, tā zuò chū le míng zhì de xuǎn zé.
Under those circumstances, he made a wise choice.

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.

况kuàngcondition

The sense comes from 景 (scene) and 况 (condition), which together point to circumstances or situation.

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.

日京景

Meaning part形符xíngfú

日日rìsun

Sound part声符shēngfú

京

京jīng景jǐng

Same sound today

景 has 日 (sun) with 京, which gives its sound; it originally meant sunlight.

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 況; 况 is its simplified writing.

氵兄況

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐriver

Sound part声符shēngfú

兄

兄xiōng況kuàng

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

The traditional form 況 pairs 氵 (river) with 兄 as the sound part; the simplified 况 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the original pieces.

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