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干劲 (gàn jìn) — drive, enthusiasm, vigor (especially in work or tasks)

Definition

干劲 is drive and motivation to work or push through tasks — the will to keep going. Closer to 劲头 (drive/zest) than to 精力 (physical/mental energy) or 激情 (passion).

noun
driveenthusiasmvigor (especially in work or tasks)

Examples

  • 干劲。
    Tā gōng zuò qǐ lái hěn yǒu gàn jìn.
    He works with great drive.
  • 干劲。
    Tā bǎ gàn jìn dōu yòng zài xué xí shàng le.
    He puts all his drive into studying.
  • ，干劲。
    Tā suī rán nián jì dà le, dàn gàn jìn bù jiǎn.
    Although he is older, his drive doesn't diminish.

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.

干gānwork
劲jìnenergy

干 refers to work, and 劲 to energy or vigor, together meaning drive in doing things.

Characters in this word

The simplified 干 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (饼干, 干杯) it is 乾; in others (干, 干活儿) (干扰) it is 幹 or 干.

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 乾; 干 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
乙乙yǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
倝
倝gàn乾gān
Same sound today
Open 干 →

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 勁; 劲 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng勁jìn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 勁 pairs 力, meaning strength, with 巠, which gives the sound; the simplified 劲 is a shorthand and its parts are not the original ones.

Open 劲 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Workplace & Office

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