经验主义 (jīng yàn zhǔ yì) — empiricism (philosophical theory that knowledge derives from experience); (pejorative) over-reliance on past experience, unwillingness to adapt

Definition

In philosophy, the view that knowledge comes from sensory experience (opposed to rationalism 理性主义). Colloquially, it can also mean stubbornly relying on old experience and refusing to adapt.

noun
empiricism (philosophical theory that knowledge derives from experience)(pejorative) over-reliance on past experience, unwillingness to adapt

Examples

  • 经验主义。
    jīng yàn zhǔ yì Qiáng diào jīng yàn shì zhī shi de wéi yī lái yuán.
    Empiricism emphasizes that experience is the sole source of knowledge.
  • 经验主义。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng pī pàn le gōng zuò zhōng de jīng yàn zhǔ yì qīng xiàng.
    This article criticizes the tendency toward empiricism in the workplace.
  • ，经验主义。
    Zài zhé xué shǐ shàng, jīng yàn zhǔ yì yǔ lǐ xìng zhǔ yì cháng qī duì lì.
    In the history of philosophy, empiricism and rationalism have long been in opposition.

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.

经验experience
经jīngundergo验yàntest
联合Side by side
主义doctrine
主zhǔprincipal义yìdoctrine
偏正Modifier + head

经验 concerns experience, and 主义 gives the sense of a doctrine.

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 經; 经 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mìsilk; thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng經jīng
Same sound today

The traditional form 經 combines 糹 (silk; thread) with 巠, which gives the sound.

Open 经 →

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 驗; 验 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
馬馬mǎ
Sound part声符shēngfú
僉
僉qiān驗yàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 驗 pairs 馬 (horse) with 僉 for sound; the simplified 验 is a later abbreviation.

Open 验 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

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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