原生态 (yuán shēng tài) — original ecology; pristine natural state; (attributive) authentic, unspoiled, organic (of food, culture, etc.)

Definition

Literally 'original ecology', 原生态 means authentic and unspoiled — used for traditional culture, music, and organic food that has not been modernized or industrialized.

noun
original ecologypristine natural state(attributive) authenticunspoiledorganic (of food, culture, etc.)

Examples

  • 原生态。
    Zhè ge bǎo hù qū bǎo liú le wán zhěng de yuán shēng tài zì rán huán jìng.
    This protected area preserves the complete original ecological environment.
  • 原生态。
    Tā xǐ huan chī yuán shēng tài de shū cài hé shuǐ guǒ.
    He likes to eat organic vegetables and fruits.
  • 原生态。
    Zhè ge cūn zi hái yǒu yuán shēng tài de mín sú biǎo yǎn.
    This village still has authentic folk performances.

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.

原yuánoriginal
生态ecology
生shēnglife态tàistate
偏正Modifier + head

“原” means original, “生” points to life, and “态” denotes state; together they suggest untouched ecology.

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.

生 shows 屮 (a bud) above 一 (the ground), drawing a sprout coming up from the earth.

Open 生 →

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
太
太tài态tài
Same sound today

态 is made of 太, which gives the sound, and 心 (heart).

Open 态 →

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