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概念 (gài niàn) — concept; idea

Definition

概念 (gǎiniàn) is a more abstract, formal 'concept' — a defined category or theory. More formal than 主意 (a personal idea/plan); broader and value-neutral than 观念 (which often carries social or moral views).

noun
conceptidea
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 概念。
    Zhè ge gài niàn hěn nán lǐ jiě.
    This concept is very hard to understand.
  • 概念概念。
    Fǎ lǜ gài niàn hé dào dé gài niàn bù yí yàng.
    Legal concepts and moral concepts are different.
  • 概念。
    Lǎo shī yòng jiǎn dān de lì zi jiě shì le zhè ge gài niàn.
    The teacher explained this concept with simple examples.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

概gàigeneral
念niànthought

概 means general and 念 means thought, so 概念 is a general idea or thought.

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
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
既
既jì概gài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

概 pairs 木 (wood) with 既 as its sound part; the character meant a strickle.

Open 概 →

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

念 combines 今, an upside-down mouth, with 心, the heart, to listen to one's heart.

Open 念 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Abstract Concepts

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