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情势 (qíng shì) — situation, circumstances

Definition

A formal, written word for the developing situation or state of affairs — broader and more literary than 情况, often used for unfolding events (political, military, public) rather than a fixed set of facts.

noun
situationcircumstances

Examples

  • 情势。
    Dāng qián de guó jì qíng shì fēi cháng fù zá.
    The current international situation is very complex.
  • 情势，。
    Miàn duì zhè yàng de qíng shì, wǒ men bì xū lěng jìng yìng duì.
    Facing such circumstances, we must respond calmly.
  • 情势，。
    Suí zhe qíng shì de fā zhǎn, wǒ men xū yào tiáo zhěng cè lüè.
    As the situation develops, we need to adjust our strategy.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

情qíngcircumstances
势shìtrend

情 (circumstances) and 势 (trend) together denote the state of affairs.

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng情qíng
Same sound today

情 shows 心 (heart) beside 青, which gives the sound. The heart part points to feelings and inner states.

Open 情 →

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 勢; 势 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìpower
Sound part声符shēngfú
埶
埶yì勢shì
Same sound today

The traditional form 勢 combines 力, meaning power, with 埶 for the sound. The simplified 势 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original parts.

Open 势 →
Appears in
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