享乐主义 (xiǎng lè zhǔ yì) — hedonism

Definition

A formal term for 'hedonism' — the philosophy or attitude of seeking pleasure as life's highest goal. Use it in writing, essays, or criticism rather than everyday speech.

noun
hedonism

Examples

  • 享乐主义，。
    Tā de rén shēng wán quán zhuī qiú xiǎng lè zhǔ yì, cóng bù kǎo lǜ zé rèn.
    His life is entirely devoted to hedonism, never considering responsibility.
  • 享乐主义。
    xiǎng lè zhǔ yì Bìng bù zǒng néng dài lái zhēn zhèng de xìng fú.
    Hedonism doesn't always bring true happiness.
  • 享乐主义。
    Zhè piān lùn wén pī pàn le xiàn dài shè huì de xiǎng lè zhǔ yì qīng xiàng.
    This paper criticizes the hedonistic tendency in modern society.

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.

享乐enjoy pleasure
享xiǎngenjoy乐lèpleasure
动宾Verb + object
主义doctrine
主zhǔ义yì

享乐 means enjoy pleasure, and 主义 names a doctrine, giving the sense of hedonism.

Characters in this word

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

享 was a drawing of an ancestral shrine.

Open 享 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 樂; 乐 is its simplified writing.

In the traditional form 樂, 絲 (string) with 木 (wood) shows strings on a piece of wood, a musical instrument; the simplified 乐 is a later shorthand.

Open 乐 →

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 義; 义 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
我
我wǒ義yì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 義 has 我 giving the sound and 羊 meaning good or auspicious; the simplified 义 is a later abbreviation.

Open 义 →

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