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理想化 (lǐ xiǎng huā) — to idealize; idealistic, idealized

Definition

Used as a verb it means 'to idealize' — to picture something as better than it really is. As an adjective it describes an unrealistic, too-perfect view, similar to 完美 but with a negative sense.

to idealizeidealisticidealized

Examples

  • 理想化。
    Bú yào guò fèn lǐ xiǎng huā nǐ de guò qù.
    Don't overly idealize your past.
  • 理想化。
    Tā duì ài qíng de kàn fǎ tài lǐ xiǎng huā le.
    Her view of love is too idealistic.
  • 理想化。
    lǐ xiǎng huā De xiàn shí ràng rén jué de bù zhēn shí.
    An idealized reality feels unreal.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

理想ideal
理lǐprinciple想xiǎngthought
偏正Modifier + head
化huàturn into

理想 means ideal, and 化 adds the sense of making or becoming ideal.

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
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
里
里lǐ理lǐ
Same sound today

理 pairs 玉 (jade) with 里, which shows how to say it; the jade part points to the old sense of polishing jade.

Open 理 →

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
心心xīnheart, mind
Sound part声符shēngfú
相
相xiāng想xiǎng
Same sound today

想 has 心 (heart, mind) below 相 (to look at); the shape shows the mind looking at or considering something, and 相 also gives the sound.

Open 想 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

化 shows two person figures, one upright and one upside down, to give the idea of reversal or change.

Open 化 →
Appears in
Thinking & Cognition

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