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超现实 (chāo xiàn shí) — surreal, surrealistic (attributive adjective)

Definition

Used for art, film, or experiences that feel dreamlike and defy ordinary reality (e.g. surreal paintings, dream sequences). As an attributive adjective, it typically takes 的 before a noun.

adjective
surrealsurrealistic (attributive adjective)

Examples

  • 超现实。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng yǒu yì zhǒng chāo xiàn shí de fēng gé.
    This movie has a surreal style.
  • 超现实。
    Tā huà zhōng de chāo xiàn shí huà miàn ràng rén yìn xiàng shēn kè.
    The surreal scenes in his paintings leave a deep impression.
  • ，超现实。
    Zài mèng lǐ, yí qiè dōu biàn de hěn chāo xiàn shí.
    In dreams, everything becomes very surreal.

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.

超chāobeyond
现实reality
现xiànpresent实shíreal
联合Coordinate

超 means beyond and 现实 means reality, so something beyond ordinary reality.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
走走zǒurun
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.

Open 超 →

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 現; 现 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
見
見jiàn現
Same sound today

The traditional form 現 pairs 玉 (jade) with 見 as a sound part; the simplified 现 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 现 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 實; 实 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánroof
  • 周周zhōucarved jade
  • 貝貝bèishellfish; cowrie

The traditional form 實 has 宀 'roof' above 周 'carved jade' and 貝 'cowrie'; the simplified 实 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 实 →
Appears in
Abstract ConceptsArt & Fine Arts

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