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劲头 (jìn tóu) — enthusiasm, drive, zest (the energetic motivation to do something)

Definition

劲头 (jìntóu) is the energetic drive or enthusiasm someone brings to a task — more about personal motivation than physical stamina. Compare 精力 (stamina) and 干劲 (work drive): 劲头 is broader and less tied to work, often used with 十足 or 高.

noun
enthusiasmdrivezest (the energetic motivation to do something)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 劲头。
    Tā gōng zuò qǐ lái jìn tóu shí zú.
    He works with tremendous drive.
  • 劲头。
    Dà jiā xué xí jìn tóu dōu hěn gāo.
    Everyone's enthusiasm for studying is very high.
  • ，。
    Nián qīng rén yào yǒu jìn tóu, bú pà shī bài.
    Young people should have drive and not be afraid of failure.

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.

劲jìnenergy
头tóusuffix

劲 carries the sense of energy, and 头 adds no separate meaning.

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 勁; 劲 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng勁jìn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 勁 pairs 力, meaning strength, with 巠, which gives the sound; the simplified 劲 is a shorthand and its parts are not the original ones.

Open 劲 →

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 頭; 头 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
豆
豆dòu頭tóu
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 頭 shows 頁, meaning head, beside 豆 as a sound component; the simplified 头 is a later shorthand.

Open 头 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Personality & Traits

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