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中度 (zhōng dù) — (adjective/noun) moderate (degree), medium-level

Definition

中度 means 'moderate / medium-level' in degree or intensity, used as a classifier-style adjective before a noun (e.g. 中度抑郁). Stronger than 轻度 (mild) but weaker than 重度 (severe), sitting in the middle of a severity scale.

adjective
(adjective/noun) moderate (degree)medium-level

Examples

  • 中度，。
    Yī shēng shuō tā huàn yǒu zhōng dù yì yù zhèng, xū yào dìng qī zhì liáo.
    The doctor said he suffers from moderate depression and needs regular treatment.
  • 中度，。
    Zhè cì de tái fēng wèi zhōng dù fēng lì, bú huì zào chéng tài dà pò huài.
    This typhoon has moderate wind force and will not cause too much damage.
  • 中度，。
    Zhè kuǎn bái jiǔ shì zhōng dù jiǔ jīng dù, shì hé dà bù fen rén yǐn yòng.
    This baijiu has a moderate alcohol content, suitable for most people.

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.

中zhōngmiddle
度dùdegree

中 “middle” and 度 “degree” together describe a moderate level.

Characters in this word

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

The original picture showed a flagpole with a drum in the middle, set up in the center of a field.

Open 中 →

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
又又yòuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
石
石shí度dù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

度 has 又 (hand) and a changed form of 石; 石 gives a related sound, and the hand is tied to using the hand as a reference for measurement.

Open 度 →
Appears in
Quantity & Amount

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