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天造地设 (tiān zào dì shè) — (chengyu) ideally suited by nature; a perfect match (for a location or couple)

Definition

A literary chengyu meaning 'a perfect natural match' — used for sites, scenery, or couples that seem made for each other. Carries a strong, formal flavor, unlike plain 合适.

idiom
(chengyu) ideally suited by naturea perfect match (for a location or couple)

Examples

  • 天造地设，。
    Zhè ge dì diǎn zhēn shì tiān zào dì shè, fēi cháng shì hé jiàn fáng zi.
    This location is truly a perfect natural fit for building a house.
  • 天造地设。
    Tā men liǎ bèi rèn wéi shì tiān zào dì shè de yí duì.
    They are considered a heaven-made couple.
  • 天造地设，。
    Zhè lǐ de fēng jǐng tiān zào dì shè, měi bú shèng shōu.
    The scenery here is naturally perfect, too beautiful to take in all at once.

Origin

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
大大dà
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng天tiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape comes from a frontal standing man 大 with a head; 天 pairs 大 with 丁 for sound.

Open 天 →

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
辵辵chuòto walk
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
屮
屮chè造zào
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Its origin is unclear, but early forms of 造 include 辵 (to walk) and 口, with 屮 as a sound part, and mean go or arrive.

Open 造 →

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě地dì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

地 is built from 土 (earth) and 也, which gives its sound.

Open 地 →

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 設; 设 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
埶
埶yì設shè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 設 uses 言 (speech) to show the meaning and 埶 to give the sound; this explanation is for 設, not the simplified 设.

Open 设 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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