装饰性 (zhuāng shì xìng) — decorative nature, ornamentality

Definition

A noun meaning 'decorative quality' — how much something is meant to ornament rather than serve a function. Often used with 强/弱, e.g. 装饰性强 ('highly decorative').

noun
decorative natureornamentality

Examples

  • 装饰性。
    Zhè jiàn yì shù pǐn de zhuāng shì xìng hěn qiáng.
    This artwork has a strong decorative nature.
  • 装饰性。
    zhuāng shì xìng Zài zhè ge shè jì zhōng fēi cháng zhòng yào.
    Decorative quality is very important in this design.
  • 装饰性。
    Tā xǐ huan zhuāng shì xìng qiáng de jiā jù.
    He likes furniture with strong decorative features.

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.

装饰decorate
装zhuāngdecorate饰shìadorn
联合Side by side
性xìngnature

装饰 means to decorate or adorn, and 性 indicates a quality; the word names decorative nature.

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 裝; 装 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衣衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
壯
壯zhuàng裝zhuāng
Same sound today

The traditional form 裝 pairs 衣 (clothes) with 壯 as a sound part; this story is about 裝, not the simplified 装.

Open 装 →

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 飾; 饰 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
巾巾jīncloth
Sound part声符shēngfú
飤
飤sì飾shì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 飾 pairs 巾 (cloth) with 飤 as a sound part; the simplified 饰 is a later abbreviation.

Open 饰 →

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
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
生
生shēng性xìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

性 is built from 忄 (the heart) and 生 (a sound clue). The heart part connects the word to a person's inner nature or quality.

Open 性 →

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