必然性 (bì rán xìng) — necessity; inevitability; certainty

Definition

A formal, written noun for 'inevitability' — the quality of something that must happen as a matter of objective necessity. It pairs with 偶然性 (contingency/accident), its philosophical opposite in the HSK 7 set.

noun
necessityinevitabilitycertainty

Examples

  • 必然性。
    Lì shǐ de bì rán xìng bú huì yǐ rén de yì zhì wèi zhuǎn yí.
    Historical inevitability does not change according to human will.
  • 必然性。
    Tā jiān xìn chéng gōng de bì rán xìng lái zì chōng fèn de zhǔn bèi.
    He firmly believes that the certainty of success comes from thorough preparation.
  • 必然性，。
    Jīng jì guī lǜ jù yǒu kè guān bì rán xìng, wú fǎ suí yì gǎi biàn.
    Economic laws have objective necessity and cannot be changed arbitrarily.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

必然inevitable
必bìcertainly然ránso
偏正Modifier + head
性xìngquality

The 必然 inevitable and 性 quality combine to mean necessity.

Characters in this word

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

The shape of 必 comes from the handle on the right side of a weapon, with two extra strokes added to its sides.

Open 必 →

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
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
肰
肰rán然rán
Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

Open 然 →

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
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
生
生shēng性xìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

性 is built from 忄 (the heart) and 生 (a sound clue). The heart part connects the word to a person's inner nature or quality.

Open 性 →

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