真义 (zhēn yì) — true sense; real meaning

Definition

Refers to the deeper or intended meaning behind a word, text, or idea, beyond the surface reading. Implies a hidden or essential truth to be uncovered.

noun
true sensereal meaning
Easily confused

Examples

  • 真义。
    Wǒ men yào lǐ jiě zhè piān wén zhāng de zhēn yì.
    We need to understand the true meaning of this article.
  • 真义？
    Zhè ge cí de zhēn yì shì shén me?
    What is the true sense of this word?
  • 真义。
    Tā shuō de měi jù huà dōu yǒu shēn kè de zhēn yì.
    Every word he says has a deep true meaning.

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.

真zhēntrue
义yìmeaning

真 'true' and 义 'meaning' combine to give the true or real sense of something.

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
貝貝bèicowrie; shell
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂈
𠂈𠂈真zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

真 pairs 貝 (cowrie shell, used for the meaning) with 𠂈, which gave the sound and originally drew a headlong fall.

Open 真 →

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 義; 义 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
我
我wǒ義yì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 義 has 我 giving the sound and 羊 meaning good or auspicious; the simplified 义 is a later abbreviation.

Open 义 →

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