正能量 (zhèng néng liàng) — positive energy; positivity | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A popular buzzword for an uplifting, optimistic attitude — 'positive energy' you spread through your actions, words, or mood. Often used in media and on social media to praise encouraging people or content.

noun

positive energypositivity

Examples

正能量。
Wǒ men dōu yào zuò chuán bō zhèng néng liàng de rén.
We all should be people who spread positive energy.
，正能量。
Zài kùn nan miàn qián, bǎo chí zhèng néng liàng hěn zhòng yào.
In the face of difficulties, maintaining positive energy is very important.
正能量，。
Tā de yì fān huà chōng mǎn le zhèng néng liàng, dà jiā dōu hěn gǎn dòng.
His words were full of positive energy, and everyone was very touched.

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.

正zhèngpositive

能量energy

能néngcapacity量liángamount

偏正Modifier + head

正 means positive, and 能 with 量 forms energy, so 正能量 describes an uplifting force.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

丁

丁dīng正zhèng

Same sound today

正 pairs 止 with 丁; 止 marks the sense and 丁 gives the sound.

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

能 is an old picture of a bear, showing two paws and a face with an open mouth.

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

日日rìsun
東東dōngbag; east

量 has 日 (sun) over 東 (bag; east). Some explanations suggest measuring under the sun or the sun rising in the east, but the exact origin is unclear.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Abstract Concepts Emotions & Feelings

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