原则性 (yuán zé xìng) — principledness; the quality of acting according to principles

Definition

A noun-noun compound: the quality or degree of being principled — how strongly someone or something sticks to its 原则 (principles). Often modified by 强 or 有.

noun
principlednessthe quality of acting according to principles

Examples

  • 原则性。
    Tā zuò shì hěn yǒu yuán zé xìng.
    He is very principled in doing things.
  • 原则性，。
    Zhè shì yí gè yuán zé xìng wèn tí, bù néng tuǒ xié.
    This is a matter of principle and cannot be compromised.
  • 原则性，。
    Tā de yuán zé xìng hěn qiáng, cóng bù qīng yì gǎi biàn lì chǎng.
    His principledness is very strong; he never easily changes his stance.

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.

原则principle
原yuánprimary则zérule
偏正Modifier + head
性xìngsuffix

原则 (principle) and 性 together yield the quality of acting according to principles.

Characters in this word

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

原 combines 泉 (spring) and 厂 (cliff), picturing a spring bursting from a cliff-side, which gives the sense of origin or source.

Open 原 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 則; 则 is its simplified writing.

  • 鼎鼎dǐngding, a bronze cauldron for cooking or sacrificial rituals
  • 刂刀dāoknife

The traditional form 則 pairs 鼎, a bronze cauldron, with 刂, a knife, possibly showing carving on a bronze vessel; the simplified 则 is a later shorthand.

Open 则 →

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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