情感 (qíng gǎn) — emotion, feeling

Definition

情感 refers to deep inner emotions, especially those shaped by values or relationships (love, loyalty, grief). 感情 overlaps but leans toward affection between people; 感觉 is more about a passing sensation or perception.

noun
emotionfeeling

Examples

  • 情感。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng biǎo dá le fēng fù de qíng gǎn.
    This movie expresses rich emotions.
  • 情感。
    Tā duì tā yǒu zhe shēn hòu de qíng gǎn.
    He has deep feelings for her.
  • 情感。
    Zhè bù xiǎo shuō miáo xiě le rén wù nèi xīn de qíng gǎn.
    This novel describes the characters' inner emotions.

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.

情qíngfeeling
感gǎnfeeling

情 and 感 both concern feeling, so 情感 means emotion.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
咸
咸xián感gǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

感 pairs 咸, which gives the sound, with 心, the heart, for feeling.

Open 感 →
Appears in
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