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端倪 (duān ní) — clue, inkling, first sign (usually of something emerging)

Definition

Literary noun meaning the first trace or hint of something emerging — usually something hidden, complex, or still unfolding. Synonymous with 线索 only in the sense of 'clue'; 端倪 emphasizes a faint initial sign, not a developed lead.

noun
clueinklingfirst sign (usually of something emerging)

Examples

  • 端倪。
    Shì qing yǐ jīng chū jiàn duān ní.
    The matter has already shown the first signs.
  • ，端倪。
    Cóng zhè xiē jì xiàng zhōng, wǒ men kě yǐ kàn chū yì diǎn duān ní.
    From these signs, we can detect a clue.
  • 端倪。
    Zhè jiàn shì de duān ní hái bú tài míng xiǎn.
    The inkling of this matter is not yet very obvious.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

端duānbeginning
倪níedge

端 points to a beginning or clue, and 倪 to an edge or sign, together giving the first inkling.

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
立立lì
Sound part声符shēngfú
耑
耑zhuān端duān
Same sound today

端 is made by putting 立 beside 耑. The 立 part is connected to the meaning, and 耑 gives the sound.

Open 端 →

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
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
兒
兒ér倪Ní
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 倪, the left part 亻 is the person radical, and the right part 兒 gives the sound.

Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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