自然主义 (zì rán zhǔ yì) — naturalism (philosophical view that the natural world is all that exists); naturalism (artistic or literary movement emphasizing realistic depiction)

Definition

An -主义 (‑ism) noun for a philosophy or art movement — in philosophy it denies the supernatural; in art and literature it means extreme realism. The art sense (think Zola, 客观描摹) is the one most learners meet at HSK 7.

noun
naturalism (philosophical view that the natural world is all that exists)naturalism (artistic or literary movement emphasizing realistic depiction)

Examples

  • 自然主义。
    Tā de zhé xué guān diǎn shēn shòu zì rán zhǔ yì de yǐng xiǎng.
    His philosophical views are deeply influenced by naturalism.
  • 自然主义。
    Zhè bù xiǎo shuō shì zì rán zhǔ yì de dài biǎo zuò.
    This novel is a representative work of naturalism.
  • ，自然主义。
    Zài měi shù shǐ shàng, zì rán zhǔ yì qiáng diào duì xiàn shí de kè guān miáo mó.
    In art history, naturalism emphasizes the objective depiction of reality.

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.

自然natural
自zìself然ránso
主谓Subject + predicate
主义doctrine
主zhǔprincipal义yìdoctrine
偏正Modifier + head

自然 (natural) and 主义 (doctrine) together name the view or movement called naturalism.

Characters in this word

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

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

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
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
肰
肰rán然rán
Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

Open 然 →

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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