形迹 (xíng jì) — (of a person) bearing, demeanor, appearance; trace, sign, vestige

Definition

A literary/literary term with two senses: a person's outward bearing and demeanor, and any trace or sign something left behind. Used in writing, not everyday speech.

noun
(of a person) bearingdemeanorappearancetracesignvestige
Easily confused

Examples

  • 形迹，。
    Nà ge rén de xíng jì fēi cháng kě yí, jǐng chá yì zhí zài zhù yì tā.
    That person's demeanor looks very suspicious; the police have been watching him.
  • 形迹。
    Fàn zuì xiàn chǎng méi yǒu liú xià rèn hé xíng jì.
    No traces were left at the crime scene.
  • 形迹，。
    Péng you zhī jiān bú bì jū yú xíng jì, suí biàn yì diǎn jiù hǎo.
    Between friends, there's no need to stand on formality; just be casual.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

形xíngform
迹jìtrace

形 is outward form, and 迹 is trace or sign.

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
彡彡shān
Sound part声符shēngfú
井
井jǐng形xíng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

形 is made from 彡 and 井, with 井 providing the sound.

Open 形 →

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
辶Written in full as辵chuòmove
Sound part声符shēngfú
朿
朿cì迹jì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

迹 pairs 辶, a movement part, with 亦, a sound part; an older form used 朿.

Open 迹 →

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