TongTong
Sign in

价值 (jià zhí) — value, worth; (figurative) values (ethical, cultural, etc.)

Definition

价值 means 'value' or 'worth' (noun) — both concrete worth of an object and abstract worth like cultural or scientific value. Compare to 价值观, which is a system of values, not a single thing's value.

noun
valueworth(figurative) values (ethical, cultural, etc.)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 价值。
    Zhè jiàn yì shù pǐn de jià zhí fēi cháng gāo.
    The value of this artwork is very high.
  • 价值。
    Wǒ men yīng gāi zūn zhòng bù tóng de wén huà jià zhí.
    We should respect different cultural values.
  • 价值。
    Zhè ge fā xiàn yǒu hěn dà de kē xué jià zhí.
    This discovery has great scientific value.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

价jiàvalue
值zhíworth

价值 combines 价 and 值, both about worth, to mean value.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
介
介jiè价jiè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

价 pairs 人 (person) with 介, which gives the sound.

Open 价 →

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
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
直
直zhí值zhí
Same sound today

值 is made from 亻 (written in full as 人, a person) and 直, with 直 giving the sound.

Open 值 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Abstract Concepts2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.