轻松 (qīng sōng) — relaxed, effortless

Definition

Adjective for feeling at ease, both about tasks (easy, effortless) and about one's state (relaxed). Compare 悠闲 (leisurely, carefree) and 松弛 (physically loose or discipline lax).

adjective
relaxedeffortless

Examples

  • 轻松。
    Jīn tiān de kǎo shì hěn qīng sōng.
    Today's exam was easy.
  • 轻松。
    Tā qīng sōng dì wán chéng le zuò yè.
    She finished her homework effortlessly.
  • 轻松。
    Zhōu mò wǒ kě yǐ yǒu qīng sōng de shí jiān.
    On weekends I can have relaxed time.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

轻qīnglight
松sōngloose

轻 means light and 松 means loose, combining into a relaxed, effortless feeling.

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 輕; 轻 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng輕qīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輕 pairs 車, a carriage, with 巠 to give the sound; it originally named a light carriage. The simplified 轻 is only a later shorthand.

Open 轻 →

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
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
公
公gōng松sōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

松 uses 木 (wood) to show it is a tree, and 公 to give the sound.

Open 松 →
Appears in
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