重在 (zhòng zài) — to put emphasis on; the key is (in 重在参与, 重在预防)

Definition

A formal verb meaning 'the key is / to put emphasis on' — used in set phrases like 重在参与 and 重在预防 to stress what really matters, not a casual everyday word.

verb
to put emphasis onthe key is (in 重在参与, 重在预防)
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，重在。
    Bǐ sài chéng jì bú shì zuì zhòng yào de, zhòng zài cān yù.
    The competition score isn't the most important thing; the key is to participate.
  • 重在。
    Ān quán guǎn lǐ zhòng zài yù fáng.
    Safety management emphasizes prevention.
  • 重在。
    Tā de fā yán zhòng zài qiáng diào tuán duì hé zuò.
    His speech put emphasis on teamwork.

Origin

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
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
東
東dōng重zhòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

重 developed from a picture of a man carrying a bag, with 人 for the man and 東 for the bag; a later ground element was folded into the form.

Open 重 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →

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