趋 (qū) — (bound form) to tend toward, to incline; used in compounds like 趋势 'trend', 趋向 'tendency'; (bound form, literary) to hasten forward
Definition
趋 is a bound literary root meaning 'to incline toward / tend toward' — it never stands alone, always appearing inside compounds like 趋势 or 趋向. The 'to hasten forward' sense is an older literary usage seen in formal writing.
bound form
to tend towardto inclineused in compounds like 趋势 'trend', 趋向 'tendency'(bound form, literary) to hasten forward
Easily confused
- 赵zhàolook-alike(surname) Zhao
- 区qūsound-alikearea, region, district
- 超chāolook-aliketo exceed, surpass (a limit, standard, or amount)
- 驱qūsound-alike(bound form) to drive (a vehicle); to propel
- 趁chènlook-alike(preposition) taking advantage of (a favorable time or condition); while a condition is still available)
- 屈qūsound-aliketo bend (literally, e.g., 屈膝 kneel)
Examples
- 。Jīng jì qū shì zhèng zài hǎo zhuǎn.The economic trend is improving.
- 。Liǎng guó guān xì qū yú yǒu hǎo.The relations between the two countries are becoming friendly day by day.
- 趋。Zhè liǎng gè guó jiā de fā zhǎn mó shì qū tóng.The development models of these two countries are converging.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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.
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.
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