印象 (yìn xiàng) — impression (of someone or something) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

印象 is a lasting mental picture of a person or experience — broader than 感觉 (a momentary feeling) and 感想 (deliberate reflections). It pairs with 留下, 深刻, 第一.

noun

impression (of someone or something)

Examples

印象。
Wǒ duì tā de dì yī yìn xiàng hěn hǎo.
My first impression of him is very good.
印象。
Zhè cì lǚ xíng gěi wǒ liú xià le hěn shēn de yìn xiàng ràng wǒ hěn nán wàng.
The deep impression from this trip is unforgettable for me.
印象？
Nǐ duì tā yǒu shén me yìn xiàng?
What impression do you have of her?

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

印yìnimprint

印 names an imprint and 象 names an image, together meaning a mental image.

Characters in this word

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

爪爪zhuǎhand
卩卩jiékneeling person

印 pairs 爪 (hand) with 卩 (kneeling person), showing a hand pressing down on a kneeling person.

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.

Appears in

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