风姿 (fēng zī) — graceful bearing, charm, good looks

Definition

Literary noun for graceful bearing and charm of a person — typical of 人物描写 and prose, not everyday speech. Implies an elegant, often womanly poise beyond just good looks.

noun
graceful bearingcharmgood looks

Examples

  • ,风姿。
    Tā suī yǐ nián guò sì shí, dàn fēng zī yī jiù bù jiǎn dāng nián.
    Although she is over forty, her graceful bearing is as charming as ever.
  • 风姿,。
    Zhè fú huà zhōng de shì nǚ fēng zī chuò yuē, lìng rén zàn tàn.
    The ladies in this painting have such elegant charm that people can't help but admire them.
  • ,风姿。
    Tā jǔ zhǐ yōu yǎ, zì yǒu yì zhǒng bù fán de fēng zī.
    He behaves elegantly, naturally possessing an extraordinary grace.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

姿zīposture

风姿 pairs style and posture: graceful bearing.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 风 →

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
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
次
次cì姿zī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

姿 pairs 女, meaning woman, with 次, which gives the sound.

Open 姿 →

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