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异常 (yì cháng) — (adjective) abnormal, unusual; (adverb) extremely, exceptionally

Definition

As an adjective it means 'abnormal / unusual' (conditions, behavior) — a more formal, written alternative to 反常. As an adverb it means 'exceptionally, extremely' and is close to 分外 in force.

adjective
abnormalunusual
adverb
extremelyexceptionally

Examples

  • 异常。
    Yī shēng fā xiàn le tā shēn tǐ de yì cháng qíng kuàng.
    The doctor discovered an abnormal condition in his body.
  • 异常。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng yì cháng jīng cǎi.
    This movie is exceptionally fascinating.
  • 异常。
    Jīn nián de qì hòu yì cháng yán rè.
    The climate this year is exceptionally hot.

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.

异yìdifferent/strange
常chángnormal

异常 combines 异, meaning different or strange, with 常, meaning normal, to give 'not normal; unusual.'

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 異; 异 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 異 depicts a person with a mask 田 over the face, so the face looks different. The simplified 异 is a later shorthand.

Open 异 →

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 →
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