珍视 (zhēn shì) — to treasure, to cherish, to value highly | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

珍视 means to deeply treasure or value something (relationships, opportunities). Stronger than 重视 ('attach importance to') and more about emotional regard than practical care; for a relationship or when parting use 珍重.

verb

to treasureto cherishto value highly

Examples

珍视。
Tā fēi cháng zhēn shì zhè cì nán dé de jī huì.
He greatly treasures this rare opportunity.
珍视。
Wǒ men yīng gāi zhēn shì shēn biān de měi yí fèn yǒu qíng.
We should treasure every friendship around us.
珍视。
Zhè xiē lǎo zhào piàn zhí dé zhēn shì.
These old photos are worth treasuring.

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.

珍zhēnprecious

珍 'precious' and 视 'regard' combine: to regard something as precious.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

㐱

㐱㐱珍

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

珍 pairs 玉, a jade or gem, with 㐱, which gives the sound; the 玉 part fits its early meaning of a rich gemstone.

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 7-9 Attitudes & Opinions

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