诱惑力 (yòu huò lì) — attractiveness, appeal, allure | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Refers to the power to attract or tempt — the 'allure' a person, thing, or idea has that draws others in. Note the strong connotation of temptation (often toward something unwise), unlike neutral 吸引力 (pure pull).

noun

attractivenessappealallure

Examples

诱惑力。
Zhè ge chéng shì de mèi lì yǒu hěn dà de yòu huò lì.
The charm of this city has great appeal.
诱惑力。
Jīn qián de yòu huò lì ràng hěn duō rén zuò chū le cuò wù de xuǎn zé.
The allure of money made many people make wrong choices.
诱惑力。
Tā de yòu huò lì ràng rén wú fǎ kàng jù.
Her attractiveness is irresistible.

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.

诱惑lure and confuse

诱yòulure惑huòconfuse

联合Coordinate

The 力 of 诱惑 is the power to lure and confuse.

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 誘; 诱 is its simplified writing.

言秀誘

Meaning part形符xíngfú

言言yánword, language

Sound part声符shēngfú

秀

秀xiù誘yòu

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

The traditional form 誘 pairs 言 (word, language) with 秀, which supplies the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

或心惑

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

或

或huò惑huò

Same sound today

惑 uses 或 for the sound and 心, the heart, for the meaning.

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

力 is drawn as either an arm bending out from the side of the body or a wooden plough.

Appears in

Abstract Concepts

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