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透彻 (tòu chè) — thorough; penetrating; incisive

Definition

Used mainly for abstract analysis or understanding: 'thorough, penetrating' (an analysis, insight, grasp of a topic). 彻底 is for completing tasks fully; 锋利 and 犀利 describe remarks that are cutting or sharp.

adjective
thoroughpenetratingincisive

Examples

  • 透彻，。
    Tā de fēn xī fēi cháng tòu chè, ràng rén yí xià zi míng bai le wèn tí de běn zhì.
    His analysis was very thorough, making people immediately understand the essence of the problem.
  • 透彻。
    Zhè běn shū duì rén xìng jìn xíng le tòu chè de pōu xī.
    This book provides a penetrating analysis of human nature.
  • ，透彻。
    Jīng guò jǐ cì tǎo lùn, wǒ men duì zhè ge jì huà yǒu le tòu chè de lǐ jiě.
    After several discussions, we have a thorough understanding of this plan.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

透tòupenetrate
彻chèpenetrate

透 and 彻 both express penetrating through, so together they mean thorough or incisive.

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
辵辵chuòwalking
Sound part声符shēngfú
秀
秀xiù透tòu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape 透 has 辵, a walking part, and 秀, which provides the sound.

Open 透 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 徹; 彻 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 徹 comes from a picture of 又 (hand) taking a 鬲 (pot) away after eating; 彻 is the simplified form of 徹.

Open 彻 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Good & Bad

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