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要素 (yào sù) — essential element; key factor; constituent

Definition

要素 means 'key element / essential factor,' used for the necessary components of a system or plan. 因素 is a broader 'factor' (including external or causal influences), while 元素 is a concrete 'element' (chemical, set member).

noun
essential elementkey factorconstituent
Measure word · 个
Easily confused

Examples

  • 要素。
    Shí jiān guǎn lǐ shì chéng gōng de zhòng yào yào sù zhī yī.
    Time management is one of the key factors of success.
  • 要素、。
    Zhè ge shí yàn de yào sù bāo kuò wēn dù, yā lì hé cuī huà jì.
    The key elements of this experiment include temperature, pressure, and catalyst.
  • 要素。
    Fēn xī shì chǎng yào sù néng bāng zhù gōng sī zhì dìng gèng hǎo de cè lüè.
    Analyzing market factors can help companies formulate better strategies.

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.

要yàoessential
素sùfactor

“要” means essential, and “素” means factor; together they denote a key constituent.

Characters in this word

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

要 began as a drawing of a person with both hands pointing to the waist.

Open 要 →

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

The shape of 素 came from a picture of hands braiding thread.

Open 素 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts

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