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歧视 (qí shì) — to discriminate against

Definition

Discriminates against people (by race, gender, etc.) — always takes a group or person as object. Often paired with 因为 for the reason (because of…) or 受到 for passive voice.

verb
to discriminate against

Examples

  • 歧视。
    Wǒ men bù néng qí shì rèn hé rén.
    We cannot discriminate against anyone.
  • 歧视。
    Nà jiā gōng sī yīn wèi qí shì nǚ xìng yuán gōng bèi gào le.
    That company was sued for discriminating against female employees.
  • 歧视。
    Tā xué xí fǎ lǜ hòu bú zài qí shì rèn hé qún tǐ.
    After studying law, he no longer discriminates against any group.

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.

歧qíbiased
视shìlook

A biased view is built from 歧, suggesting a divergent slant, and 视, meaning to look.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Society & Public Life

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