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纪实 (jì shí) — (verb) to record actual events; to document facts; (noun) a record of actual events; a documentary (factual)

Definition

纪实 is the act of recording real events, or the factual record itself (a verb or noun for 'documenting / documentary'). 纪录片 is the finished film or TV program; 实况 emphasizes live, unfolding coverage rather than recorded fact.

verb
to record actual eventsto document facts
noun
a record of actual eventsa documentary (factual)

Examples

  • 纪实。
    Tā yòng zì jǐ de jīng lì jì shí le nà duàn lì shǐ.
    He documented that period of history with his own experience.
  • 纪实。
    Zhè bù jì shí jù yǒu hěn qiáng de zhēn shí xìng.
    This documentary has strong authenticity.
  • 纪实。
    jì shí Shè yǐng bù tóng yú yì shù shè yǐng.
    Documentary photography is different from artistic photography.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

纪jìrecord
实shífacts

纪 (“record”) combined with 实 (“facts”) gives “record of actual events,” hence documentary.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 紀; 纪 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
己
己jǐ紀jì
Same sound today

The traditional form 紀 pairs 糸, silk, with 己 as the sound part; the simplified 纪 is a shorthand.

Open 纪 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 實; 实 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánroof
  • 周周zhōucarved jade
  • 貝貝bèishellfish; cowrie

The traditional form 實 has 宀 'roof' above 周 'carved jade' and 貝 'cowrie'; the simplified 实 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 实 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Media & News

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