守真 (shǒu zhēn) — to preserve one's original nature / to maintain sincerity and simplicity

Definition

Literary verb meaning to keep one's original, sincere nature amid worldly pressure. Often used in philosophical, artistic, or spiritual contexts — much more formal than everyday words like 保持.

verb
to preserve one's original nature / to maintain sincerity and simplicity

Examples

  • ，守真，。
    Zài fù zá de shè huì lǐ, tā yī rán néng shǒu zhēn, fēi cháng nán dé.
    In a complicated society, he can still preserve his true nature — that's very rare.
  • ，。
    Zhè wèi yì shù jiā yì zhí shǒu zhe zhēn, zuò pǐn cái zhè me chún cuì.
    This artist has always maintained his true self, which is why his works are so pure.
  • ，守真，。
    Jīng lì guò míng lì yòu huò, hái néng shǒu zhēn, cái shì zhēn zhèng de xiū xíng.
    Going through the temptations of fame and fortune and still keeping one's original nature — that is true spiritual practice.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

守shǒukeep
真zhēngenuine nature

守 means to keep or guard, and 真 is the genuine nature being preserved.

Characters in this word

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

  • 宀宀miánroof; building
  • 寸寸cùnhand

守 pairs 宀, a roof or building, with 寸, a hand, to show a hand guarding a place.

Open 守 →

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
貝貝bèicowrie; shell
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂈
𠂈𠂈真zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

真 pairs 貝 (cowrie shell, used for the meaning) with 𠂈, which gave the sound and originally drew a headlong fall.

Open 真 →

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