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值得 (zhí dé) — to be worth; to deserve

Definition

值得 expresses that something is 'worth it' — the cost, effort, or time pays off (值得看 'worth watching'). It's an evaluation of value, not an obligation like 该 ('should') or a verdict on merit like 配 ('deserve').

verb
to be worthto deserve

Examples

  • 值得。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng hěn zhí dé kàn.
    This movie is worth watching.
  • 值得？
    Huā zhè me duō qián mǎi zhè ge zhí dé ma?
    Is it worth spending so much money to buy this?
  • 值得。
    Tā de nǔ lì zhí dé wǒ men xué xí.
    His efforts are worth learning from.

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.

值zhíworth
得désuffix

值 contributes the idea of worth, while 得 completes the word.

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
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 →

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

The old form 㝵 showed a hand picking up a cowry, meaning to obtain; later changes turned that picture into 得.

Open 得 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4Good & Bad2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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