泛指 (fàn zhǐ) — to refer to in a general sense; to be used as a general term

Definition

A formal/logical term meaning 'to refer to a whole category, not a specific one.' Contrasts directly with 特指 ('to refer to a specific one') — paired opposites often seen in linguistic and academic contexts.

verb
to refer to in a general senseto be used as a general term

Examples

  • 泛指，。
    Zhè ge cí fàn zhǐ gè zhǒng bù tóng de qíng kuàng, bù zhǐ shì zhǐ yì zhǒng.
    This word generally refers to various different situations, not just one.
  • “”泛指，。
    Tā shuō de "dà jiā" fàn zhǐ zài chǎng de suǒ yǒu rén, bú shì tè zhǐ mǒu gè rén.
    His use of 'everyone' generally refers to all people present, not specifically to any one person.
  • ，泛指，。
    Zài yǔ yán xué zhōng, zhè ge shù yǔ fàn zhǐ yí lèi xiàn xiàng, ér fēi gè bié lì zi.
    In linguistics, this term generally refers to a class of phenomena, not individual instances.

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.

泛fànbroad
指zhǐrefer

泛 gives broadness and 指 gives pointing, so it means to refer broadly.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
乏
乏fá泛fàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

泛 pairs 氵 (water) with 乏, which gives the sound.

Open 泛 →

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
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
旨
旨zhǐ指zhǐ
Same sound today

The left part 扌 is the hand form 手. The right part 旨 gives the sound.

Open 指 →

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