见长 (jiàn cháng) — to grow perceptibly; to improve

Definition

Used for skills, abilities, or performance that visibly grow or improve over time. Like 增长 it points to measurable progress, but 见长 emphasizes the perceptible, observable gain rather than the rate of increase.

verb
to grow perceptiblyto improve

Examples

  • 见长。
    Tā de hàn yǔ shuǐ píng jiàn cháng hěn kuài.
    His Chinese level has improved quickly.
  • ，见长。
    Jīng guò liàn xí, tā de gāng qín jì qiǎo jiàn cháng le bù shǎo.
    After practice, her piano skills have improved quite a bit.
  • 见长。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù xū yào yí duàn shí jiān cái néng jiàn cháng.
    This project needs some time before it can grow perceptibly.

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.

见jiànbe seen
长chánggrow

“见” suggests being seen and “长” means grow, so growth is perceptible.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 見; 见 is its simplified writing.

  • 目目mùeye
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

The traditional form 見 pairs 目 (eye) with 卩 (kneeling person), showing a kneeling figure with a large eye for a head. The simplified 见 is a later shorthand.

Open 见 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 長; 长 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 長 pictures an old man with long hair. The simplified 长 is a later shorthand, so its strokes do not show that original picture.

Open 长 →

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