门径 (mén jìng) — (figurative) way, approach, or key to something

Definition

Literally 'door + path', 门径 (ménjìng) is a written, figurative word meaning 'way in, key to (understanding or mastering something)'. It is more literary than 方法 or 途径, and typically pairs with verbs like 找到, 掌握, or 了解.

noun
(figurative) wayapproachor key to something

Examples

  • 门径。
    Zhǎo dào xué xí hàn yǔ de mén jìng hěn zhòng yào.
    Finding the key to learning Chinese is very important.
  • 门径。
    Tā gěi wǒ men zhǐ chū le jiě jué wèn tí de mén jìng.
    He pointed out the way to solve the problem.
  • 门径。
    Zhè běn shū shì liǎo jiě zhōng guó wén huà de mén jìng.
    This book is the gateway to understanding Chinese culture.

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.

门méndoor
径jìngpath

门径 is the 径 to a 门, extended to a way or approach.

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 門; 门 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 門 pictures a gate as two door shapes side by side; the simplified 门 is a later shorthand.

Open 门 →

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 徑; 径 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彳彳chì
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng徑
Same sound today

The traditional form 徑 is built from 彳 and 巠, with 巠 giving the sound; the simplified 径 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 径 →

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