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优秀 (yōu xiù) — outstanding, excellent

Definition

All-purpose 'outstanding / excellent' for people and their work or performance. 出色 emphasizes how well a task is done; 卓越 is a stronger, more formal step above 优秀.

adjective
outstandingexcellent

Examples

  • 优秀。
    Tā de gōng zuò biǎo xiàn hěn yōu xiù.
    His work performance is excellent.
  • 优秀。
    Wǒ men gōng sī xū yào yōu xiù de rén cái.
    Our company needs outstanding talent.
  • 优秀。
    Tā shì yí wèi yōu xiù de yī shēng.
    She is an excellent doctor.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

优yōuexcellent
秀xiùoutstanding

优 gives excellence, 秀 gives outstanding quality, together meaning very good.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 優; 优 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
憂
憂yōu優yōu
Same sound today

The traditional form 優 combines 亻 (人, person) with 憂 for the sound; the simplified 优 is a later abbreviation.

Open 优 →

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

秀 pairs 禾 (rice plant) with 引 (to draw out flowers), showing a rice plant putting out flowers.

Open 秀 →
Appears in
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