正视 (zhèng shì) — to face squarely, to face up to (a problem, rea… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

正视 means to face something squarely — typically a hard truth or problem you might prefer to avoid. 面对 is broader ('to face' anything, physical or abstract); 面临 emphasizes a problem already pressing in on you.

verb

to face squarelyto face up to (a problem, reality, etc.)

Easily confused

正式zhèng shìsound-alikeformal

Examples

正视。
Wǒ men yīng gāi zhèng shì zì jǐ de bù zú.
We should face up to our own shortcomings.
正视。
Tā gǎn yú zhèng shì lì shǐ.
He dares to face history squarely.
正视，。
Zhǐ yǒu zhèng shì kùn nan, cái néng jiě jué kùn nan.
Only by facing difficulties squarely can we solve them.

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zhèngsquarely

正 means squarely and 视 is to look, so 正视 is to face a problem directly.

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.

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 視; 视 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

見見jiànsee

Sound part声符shēngfú

示

示shì視shì

Same sound today

The story is about the traditional form 視: it combines 見, meaning see, with 示, which gives the sound shì.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Thinking & Cognition

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