同性 (tóng xìng) — (attributive) same-sex (relating to sexual orientation); (attributive) of the same nature, homogeneous (in scientific contexts)

Definition

Adjective meaning 'same-sex' (about sexual orientation) or, in technical writing, 'of the same nature'. Almost always used as an attributive before a noun (同性婚姻, 同性电荷).

adjective
(attributive) same-sex (relating to sexual orientation)(attributive) of the same naturehomogeneous (in scientific contexts)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 同性。
    Tā men zhī chí tóng xìng hūn yīn hé fǎ huà.
    They support the legalization of same-sex marriage.
  • 同性。
    tóng xìng Bàn lǚ yě kě yǐ lǐng yǎng hái zi.
    Same-sex couples can also adopt children.
  • ，同性。
    Zài wù lǐ xué zhōng, tóng xìng diàn hè hù xiāng pái chì.
    In physics, like charges repel each other.

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.

同tóngsame
性xìngnature or sex

The meanings of 同 (same) and 性 (nature or sex) combine to express a shared nature or the same sex.

Characters in this word

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

同 originally drew a pipe. It is the old form of 筒.

Open 同 →

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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