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鲜为人知 (xiǎn wéi rén zhī) — rarely known; little known; known to very few

Definition

A written, formal idiom meaning 'known by very few people.' Used in articles, reports, or literary contexts rather than everyday speech.

phrase
rarely knownlittle knownknown to very few

Examples

  • 鲜为人知。
    Zhè ge chuán shuō yǐ jīng xiǎn wéi rén zhī le.
    This legend is already little known.
  • 鲜为人知，。
    Nà duàn lì shǐ xiǎn wéi rén zhī, zhǐ yǒu jǐ wèi xué zhě zài yán jiū.
    That period of history is little known; only a few scholars are studying it.
  • 鲜为人知。
    Tā shì yí wèi xiǎn wéi rén zhī de mín jiān yì shù jiā.
    He is a little-known folk artist.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鮮; 鲜 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
魚魚yúfish
Sound part声符shēngfú
羴
羴shān鮮xiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 鮮 pairs 魚 (fish) with 羴, which gives the sound; this note is about 鮮, not 鲜.

Open 鲜 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

Open 为 →

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

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →

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

An early form of 知 showed 大 (adult), 口 (mouth), and 子 (child): an adult speaking to a child to pass on knowledge. The 子 part was dropped, and the 大 part changed shape.

Open 知 →
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HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Idioms & Set Phrases

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