冒险性 (mào xiǎn xìng) — adventurousness, riskiness, speculative nature

Definition

Refers to the quality or tendency of being risky and speculative — a property of a person, action, or decision. Pairs naturally with 强/大 to mean 'high risk'.

noun
adventurousnessriskinessspeculative nature

Examples

  • 冒险性。
    Tā de xìng gé zhōng mào xiǎn xìng hěn qiáng.
    His personality has a strong adventurous streak.
  • 冒险性。
    Zhè xiàng tóu zī de mào xiǎn xìng bǐ jiào dà.
    The riskiness of this investment is relatively high.
  • 冒险性。
    Kē xué jiā bì xū píng héng chuàng xīn yǔ mào xiǎn xìng.
    Scientists must balance innovation and risk.

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.

冒险take risks
冒màobrave/dare险xiǎndanger
动宾Verb + object
性xìngness

冒险 conveys braving danger, and 性 gives the sense of a quality or nature.

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
目目mùeyes
Sound part声符shēngfú
冃
冃mào冒mào
Same sound today

冒 was built from 冃, a hat used for the sound, plus 目, eyes, as the meaning part.

Open 冒 →

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 險; 险 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
僉
僉qiān險
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 險 pairs 阝, written in full as 阜, with 僉, which gives the sound; the simplified 险 is a shorthand.

Open 险 →

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
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
生
生shēng性xìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

性 is built from 忄 (the heart) and 生 (a sound clue). The heart part connects the word to a person's inner nature or quality.

Open 性 →

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