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较为 (jiào wéi) — comparatively, relatively

Definition

Written/formal adverb meaning 'relatively, comparatively' before adjectives. Same idea as the more colloquial 比较, but 较为 sounds more formal and appears mainly in writing.

adverb
comparativelyrelatively

Examples

  • 较为。
    Zhè ge fāng fǎ jiào wéi fāng biàn.
    This method is relatively convenient.
  • 较为。
    Tā de gōng zuò jiào wéi zhòng yào.
    His work is relatively important.
  • 较为，。
    Zhè cì kǎo shì jiào wéi jiǎn dān, bú yòng tài jǐn zhāng.
    This exam is relatively simple; there's no need to be too nervous.

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.

较jiàocomparatively
为wèibe

较 (comparatively) and 为 (be) give a measured sense: something is relatively so.

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 較; 较 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūvehicle
Sound part声符shēngfú
交
交jiāo較jiào
Same sound today

In the traditional form 較, 車 (vehicle) gives the sense and 交 gives the sound; the simplified 较 is a later abbreviation.

Open 较 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

Open 为 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Comparison & Degree

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