求是 (qiú shì) — (proper noun) Seeking Truth (used in names of journals, institutions, or as a motto)

Definition

求是 is the motto-style phrase 'Seeking Truth,' used in institutional names (e.g. Zhejiang University's motto) and journal titles like 《求是》. It's not a casual everyday phrase — learners will mostly meet it as a proper noun.

noun
(proper noun) Seeking Truth (used in names of journals, institutions, or as a motto)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 《求是》。
    Tā jīng cháng dú 《qiú shì》 zá zhì.
    He often reads the journal Qiushi.
  • 浙求是。
    Zhè jiāng dà xué de xiào xùn jiù shì qiú shì.
    The motto of Zhejiang University is "Seeking Truth".
  • 《求是》。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng fā biǎo zài 《qiú shì》 shàng.
    This article was published in the journal Qiushi.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

求qiúseek
是shìtruth

求 and 是 describe seeking what is true or right.

Characters in this word

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

求 began as a drawing of a centipede.

Open 求 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 是 →

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