临时性 (lín shí xìng) — temporary nature; provisionality

Definition

Noun for the abstract quality of being temporary or provisional — used to describe policies, arrangements, or measures that are meant to last only a short time.

noun
temporary natureprovisionality

Examples

  • 临时性，。
    Zhè ge gōng zuò tōng cháng shì lín shí xìng de, bú shì cháng qī zhí wèi.
    This job is usually temporary, not a permanent position.
  • ，临时性。
    Yīn wèi dà lóu wéi xiū, gōng sī lín shí ān pái le lín shí xìng de bàn gōng dì diǎn.
    Because of the building renovation, the company arranged a temporary office location.
  • 临时性。
    Zhè zhǒng lín shí xìng de zhèng cè zhī zài jǐn jí qíng kuàng xià shì yòng.
    This kind of temporary policy only applies in emergency situations.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

临时temporary
临línface时shítime
动宾Verb + object
性xìngnature

临时 (“temporary”) + 性 (“nature”) gives the nature of being temporary.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 臨; 临 is its simplified writing.

For the traditional form 臨, 人 is a person, 臣 is an eye, and 品 is objects, showing a person looking down at objects.

Open 临 →

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 時; 时 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
日日rìsun; day
Sound part声符shēngfú
之
之zhī時shí
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 時 pairs 日 (sun/day) with 之 as the part that gives the sound; the simplified 时 is not the form described.

Open 时 →

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
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
生
生shēng性xìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

性 is built from 忄 (the heart) and 生 (a sound clue). The heart part connects the word to a person's inner nature or quality.

Open 性 →

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