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潜在 (qián zài) — potential; latent; hidden (existing but not yet manifest or developed)

Definition

潜在 (qiánzài) means 'latent / potential' — something that exists now but hasn't developed or shown itself. Compared to 隐性 (about hidden traits, especially genetic), 潜在 emphasizes unrealized future possibility.

adjective
potentiallatenthidden (existing but not yet manifest or developed)

Examples

  • 潜在。
    Zhè ge shì chǎng yǒu jù dà de qián zài xū qiú.
    This market has huge potential demand.
  • 潜在。
    Zhè ge chǎn pǐn cún zài qián zài de ān quán wèn tí.
    This product has potential safety issues.
  • 潜在。
    Tā fā xiàn le zì jǐ de qián zài néng lì.
    He discovered his hidden abilities.

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.

潜qiánhidden
在zàiexist

潜 (hidden) describes how something 在 (exists), giving a latent or not yet visible sense.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 潛; 潜 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
朁
朁cǎn潛qián
Same sound today

The form 潛 has 水 as a meaning part and 朁 as a sound part; this note is about 潛, not the simplified 潜.

Open 潜 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract Concepts

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