具象 (jù xiàng) — concrete image; tangible form; (art) representational

Definition

The opposite of 抽象 (chōuxiàng 'abstract'): something shown in a recognizable, concrete, tangible form — used especially for representational art and for ideas expressed through visible, graspable images.

noun
concrete imagetangible form(art) representational

Examples

  • 具象，。
    Zhè fú huà shì jù xiàng yì shù, bú shì chōu xiàng yì shù.
    This painting is representational art, not abstract art.
  • ，具象。
    Zài zhé xué zhōng, jù xiàng hé chōu xiàng shì xiāng duì de gài niàn.
    In philosophy, the concrete and the abstract are relative concepts.
  • 具象，。
    Tā gèng xǐ huan jù xiàng de biǎo dá fāng shì, yīn wèi kàn de dǒng.
    He prefers a concrete way of expression because it's easier to understand.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

具jùhave/possess
象xiàngimage/form

具 (have) and 象 (image) mean having a form, hence concrete or representational.

Characters in this word

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

具 pairs 廾 (two hands) with 鼎 (a cauldron), showing hands working with a cauldron to prepare food.

Open 具 →

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

象 is drawn as an elephant, with a long trunk, a head, and a big body.

Open 象 →

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