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长足 (cháng zú) — remarkable, substantial (of progress, development, improvement)

Definition

长足 only modifies progress/growth/development, meaning 'big, rapid' (e.g. 长足的进展). Unlike 出色 or 显著, it is never used for people or qualities — only for positive change over time.

adjective
remarkablesubstantial (of progress, development, improvement)

Examples

  • ，长足。
    Jīng guò nǔ lì, wǒ men de xiàng mù yǒu le cháng zú de jìn zhǎn.
    Through hard work, our project has made substantial progress.
  • 长足。
    Zhè ge dì qū zài guò qù de shí nián lǐ shí xiàn le cháng zú de jīng jì zēng zhǎng.
    This region has achieved remarkable economic growth over the past ten years.
  • 长足。
    Tā de néng lì yǒu le cháng zú de tí gāo.
    His abilities have seen substantial improvement.

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.

长chánglong
足zúfoot

The image of 长 (long) and 足 (foot) suggests a long stride, hence rapid or substantial progress.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 長; 长 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 長 pictures an old man with long hair. The simplified 长 is a later shorthand, so its strokes do not show that original picture.

Open 长 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

足 was originally drawn as a leg.

Open 足 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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