情形 (qíng xing) — circumstances, situation | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

情形 is a near-synonym of 情况, more common in writing. 情景 leans toward a vivid 'scene'; 形势 stresses the political or strategic picture.

noun

circumstancessituation

Measure word · 个

Examples

情形，。
Zhè ge qíng xing hěn fù zá, xū yào zǐ xì fēn xī.
This situation is very complicated and needs careful analysis.
情形，。
Zài nà zhǒng qíng xing xià, tā zuò chū le zhèng què de jué dìng.
Under those circumstances, he made the right decision.
情形，。
Jīng jì qíng xing hǎo zhuǎn hòu, gōng sī kāi shǐ zhāo pìn xīn yuán gōng.
After the economic situation improved, the company started hiring new employees.

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qíngcondition

情 and 形 are two aspects of a situation: the condition and its visible form.

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.

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.

Appears in

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