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观赏性 (guān shǎng xìng) — visual appeal, spectacle, aesthetic quality (of an event, performance, or object)

Definition

A noun for the visual or aesthetic quality of something — how enjoyable it is to watch, regardless of substance. As in 观赏性很强 ('very watchable/visually striking'), it describes appeal to the eye rather than to the mind.

noun
visual appealspectacleaesthetic quality (of an event, performance, or object)

Examples

  • 观赏性，。
    Zhè chǎng bǐ sài hěn yǒu guān shǎng xìng, guān zhòng kàn dé fēi cháng kāi xīn.
    This match was very entertaining to watch; the audience really enjoyed it.
  • ，观赏性。
    Diàn yǐng suī rán qíng jié jiǎn dān, dàn guān shǎng xìng hěn qiáng.
    Although the movie has a simple plot, it is very visually appealing.
  • ，观赏性。
    Shè jì bù zhǐ shì hǎo kàn, gèng yào zhù zhòng guān shǎng xìng.
    Design is not just about being pretty; you also have to focus on aesthetic appeal.

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.

观赏view and enjoy
观guānlook赏shǎngenjoy
联合Coordinate
性xìngquality

观赏 is looking and enjoying, and 性 gives the sense of quality.

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 觀; 观 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
見見jiànsee
Sound part声符shēngfú
雚
雚guàn觀guān
Same sound today

The traditional form 觀 uses 見 (see) for meaning and 雚 for sound.

Open 观 →

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 賞; 赏 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèicowry
Sound part声符shēngfú
商
商shāng賞shǎng
Same sound today

The traditional form 賞 pairs 商 for sound with 貝, a cowry shell; the simplified 赏 is a shorthand.

Open 赏 →

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 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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