分裂主义 (fēn liè zhǔ yì) — splittism

Definition

A formal political term (the '-主义' noun pattern) for movements or ideologies that advocate breaking a country or group apart into separate parts. Often used in official and media contexts alongside words like 国家统一 ('national unity').

noun
splittism

Examples

  • 分裂主义。
    Wǒ men jiān jué fǎn duì rèn hé xíng shì de fēn liè zhǔ yì.
    We firmly oppose any form of splittism.
  • 分裂主义。
    fēn liè zhǔ yì Xíng wéi huì pò huài guó jiā de hé píng yǔ wěn dìng.
    Splittist behavior will destroy the country's peace and stability.
  • 、分裂主义。
    Wéi hù guó jiā tǒng yī, fǎn duì fēn liè zhǔ yì shì měi gè gōng mín de zé rèn.
    Maintaining national unity and opposing splittism is the responsibility of every citizen.

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.

分裂split
分fēnsplit裂liècrack
联合Side by side
主义doctrine
主zhǔ义yì

分裂 means splitting, and 主义 means doctrine, so 分裂主义 is the doctrine of splitting.

Characters in this word

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

分 pairs 八 (to separate) with 刀 (knife), showing something cut apart with a knife.

Open 分 →

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
衣衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
列
列liè裂liè
Same sound today

裂 combines 衣 (clothes) with 列 for the sound. The picture of 列 shows bones cut by a blade and lined up, and the whole writes the idea of cutting and tearing clothes.

Open 裂 →

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

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

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 義; 义 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
我
我wǒ義yì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 義 has 我 giving the sound and 羊 meaning good or auspicious; the simplified 义 is a later abbreviation.

Open 义 →

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