常青 (cháng qīng) — (adjective) evergreen (of plants, not deciduous); (figurative) enduring, everlasting (of relationships, achievements, etc.)

Definition

Literally 'always green': describes plants that keep their leaves year-round, or metaphorically things (friendships, careers, legacies) that stay fresh and vigorous long-term.

adjective
evergreen (of plants, not deciduous)(figurative) enduringeverlasting (of relationships, achievements, etc.)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 常青。
    Zhè kē sōng shù yì nián sì jì dōu cháng qīng.
    This pine tree is evergreen all year round.
  • 常青。
    Xī wàng wǒ men de yǒu yì cháng qīng bù lǎo.
    I hope our friendship will remain ever youthful.
  • 常青。
    Zhè wèi yì shù jiā de shì yè yì zhí cháng qīng.
    This artist's career has always been evergreen.

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.

常chángalways
青qīnggreen

常 means always and 青 means green, so it means always green.

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
巾巾jīncloth
Sound part声符shēngfú
尚
尚shàng常cháng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

常 pairs 巾, a cloth, with 尚 as a sound part; the form originally referred to a lower garment.

Open 常 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

An early form of 青 combined 生 and 井, both used for sound; the modern form has changed.

Open 青 →

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