超常 (chāo cháng) — extraordinary; supernormal; above average | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Adjective-like verb meaning 'extraordinary, well above the normal level' — describes performance, ability, or difficulty that far exceeds what is typical.

verb

extraordinarysupernormalabove average

Examples

超常，。
Tā de biǎo xiàn chāo cháng, ràng rén jīng yà.
His performance was extraordinary, surprising everyone.
超常，。
Zhè cì kǎo shì nán dù chāo cháng, kǎo shēng dōu shuō hěn nán.
The difficulty of this exam was above average; all test-takers said it was very hard.
超常，。
Zhè ge yùn dòng yuán de néng lì chāo cháng, dǎ pò le shì jiè jì lù.
This athlete's ability is extraordinary; he broke the world record.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

常chángnormal

超 means exceed and 常 means normal, so the word describes going beyond what is usual.

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.

走召超

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

召

召zhào超chāo

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

超 pairs 走, meaning “run,” with 召, which gives the sound.

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

巾巾jīncloth

Sound part声符shēngfú

尚

尚shàng常cháng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

常 pairs 巾, a cloth, with 尚 as a sound part; the form originally referred to a lower garment.

Appears in

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