英气 (yīng qì) — heroic spirit, bravery | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

英气 (yīngqì) is the heroic, spirited bearing a person shows through their eyes, brow, or manner — more a visible aura than an inner feeling. Often paired with 眉宇间 or 一股 to describe someone who looks dashing and courageous.

noun

heroic spiritbravery

Examples

英气。
Tā yǎn shén zhōng tòu lù chū yì gǔ yīng qì.
His eyes reveal a heroic spirit.
英气。
Zhè wèi jiāng jūn méi yǔ jiān jìn xiǎn yīng qì.
This general's brows show all of his heroic spirit.
英气。
Tā de dòng zuò zhōng dài zhe yì zhǒng yīng qì.
Her movements carry a kind of heroic spirit.

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.

气qìspirit

The 英 quality of heroism combines with 气 spirit to suggest bravery.

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.

艹央英

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎograss

Sound part声符shēngfú

央

央yāng英yīng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

英 pairs 艹 (grass) with 央, which gives the sound.

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

气米氣

Meaning part形符xíngfú

米米mǐrice

Sound part声符shēngfú

气

气qì氣qì

Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

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