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容易 (róng yì) — easy, simple (not difficult); likely to happen, liable to (often used with undesirable outcomes)

Definition

Covers two senses: 'easy, not difficult' (problems, tasks) and 'likely to' (something will happen, often something bad). For 'easy' describing something simple or uncomplicated, prefer 简单.

adjective
easysimple (not difficult)likely to happenliable to (often used with undesirable outcomes)

Examples

  • 容易。
    Zhè ge wèn tí hěn róng yì.
    This question is very easy.
  • 容易。
    Tiān lěng de shí hou rén róng yì gǎn mào.
    When it's cold, people easily catch colds.
  • 。
    Zhè ge zì bù róng yì xiě.
    This character is not easy to write.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

容róngeasy
易yìeasy

Both 容 and 易 carry a sense of ease, so together they describe something not difficult.

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
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
公
公gōng容róng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 容, the 宀 (roof) part points to holding or containing, and 公 gives the sound.

Open 容 →

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

The early form of 易 was a drawing of a filled container, not a chameleon. It showed something full that could be given out.

Open 易 →
Appears in
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