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主动性 (zhǔ dòng xìng) — initiative (the quality of taking action proactively)

Definition

noun
initiative (the quality of taking action proactively)

Examples

  • 主动性，。
    Tā de zhǔ dòng xìng hěn qiáng, zǒng shì dì yī gè wán chéng rèn wu.
    His initiative is very strong; he always finishes tasks first.
  • 主动性，。
    Zài gōng zuò zhōng yào yǒu zhǔ dòng xìng, bú yào děng bié rén ān pái.
    At work you need to have initiative; don't wait for others to arrange things.
  • 主动性。
    Zhè cì huó dòng de chéng gōng kào dà jiā de zhǔ dòng xìng.
    The success of this event depends on everyone's initiative.

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.

主动proactive
主zhǔtake the lead动dòngaction
偏正Modifier + head
性xìngquality

主动 means taking the lead in action, and 性 gives the sense of a quality, naming the quality of acting proactively.

Characters in this word

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

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

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 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →

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 →
Appears in
Personality & Traits

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