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趋向 (qū xiàng) — to tend to, to incline towards (a direction or state)

Definition

Used to describe a developing direction or trend, often for gradual change (e.g. climate, attitudes, conditions). Compare with 趋势 (qūshì), the noun meaning 'overall trend' or 'tendency.'

verb
to tend toto incline towards (a direction or state)

Examples

  • 趋向。
    Tā de bìng qíng qū xiàng hǎo zhuǎn.
    His condition is tending to improve.
  • 趋向，。
    Quán qiú qì wēn qū xiàng shàng shēng, yǐn qǐ guǎng fàn guān zhù.
    Global temperatures are tending to rise, attracting widespread attention.
  • 趋向，。
    Tā de xīn tài qū xiàng jī jí, zhè hěn zhí dé xué xí.
    Her attitude tends to be positive, which is worth learning from.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

趋qūmove toward
向xiàngtoward

趋 means to move toward and 向 means toward or direction, so together they express a tendency.

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 趨; 趋 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
芻
芻chú趨qū
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 趨 pairs 走, a walking/running part, with 芻 as a sound part; the simplified 趋 is a later shorthand.

Open 趋 →

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

向 originally drew 宀 (house) with 口 to show an echo in a place; later it was used for direction.

Open 向 →
Appears in
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