牛劲 (niú jìn) — great physical strength; tremendous effort; stubbornness; tenacity; obstinacy

Definition

Literally 'ox-strength' — used for two opposite flavors: great physical force or tenacious effort, but also (often with 那股) a stubborn streak no one can talk you out of.

noun
great physical strengthtremendous effortstubbornnesstenacityobstinacy

Examples

  • 牛劲，。
    Tā gān qǐ huó lái zhēn yǒu niú jìn, yí gè rén néng bān dòng jǐ bǎi jīn de shí tou.
    He really has great strength when working; he can move rocks weighing hundreds of jin by himself.
  • 牛劲，。
    Zhè hái zi xué xí shàng yǒu yì gǔ niú jìn, bú nòng dǒng jué bú bà xiū.
    This child has a tenacious streak in studying; he won't give up until he understands.
  • 牛劲，。
    Tā nà niú jìn yòu shàng lái le, shuí quàn dōu méi yòng.
    His stubborn mood is back again; no one can talk him out of it.

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.

牛niúox
劲jìnstrength

“牛” means ox and “劲” means strength, so the word suggests ox-like force or stubborn effort.

Characters in this word

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

牛 is drawn as a bull's head, with two horns and two ears.

Open 牛 →

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 勁; 劲 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng勁jìn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 勁 pairs 力, meaning strength, with 巠, which gives the sound; the simplified 劲 is a shorthand and its parts are not the original ones.

Open 劲 →

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