益智 (yì zhì) — to enhance intelligence or wisdom

Definition

Literally 'benefit + wisdom', 益智 is used as a verb or attributive to mean 'to sharpen the mind' — usually said of activities, games, or foods thought to boost thinking ability.

verb
to enhance intelligence or wisdom
Easily confused

Examples

  • 益智。
    Duō dú shū kě yǐ yì zhì.
    Reading more can enhance intelligence.
  • 益智。
    Zhè zhǒng yóu xì fēi cháng yì zhì.
    This kind of game is very good for the mind.
  • 益智。
    Zhè ge huó dòng néng yì zhì hái zi men de sī wéi.
    This activity can enhance children's thinking.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

益yìbenefit
智zhìintelligence

益 means to benefit or increase, and 智 is intelligence; together they express enhancing wisdom.

Characters in this word

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

益 puts 水 (water) above 皿 (a vessel), originally showing water overflowing the vessel.

Open 益 →

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

The early form 智 used 大 (adult), 口 (mouth), and 子 (child): an adult speaking to pass knowledge to a child.

Open 智 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.