Definition
惯性 is a noun with two main senses: the physics meaning of 'inertia' (the resistance of an object to change in motion), and a figurative meaning of 'force of habit' or 'automatic tendency to keep doing things a certain way'. In everyday Chinese, the figurative use is very common — it describes behavior that is done without thinking because it has become ingrained. The physics sense appears in scientific or technical contexts.
noun
(physics) inertia(figurative) force of habittendency to do things in the accustomed way
Examples
- 惯性，。Yóuyú guàn xìng, qìchē jí shāchē shí chéngkè huì xiàng qián dǎo.Due to inertia, passengers fall forward when the car brakes suddenly.
- ，惯性。Tā měitiān zǒu tóng yì tiáo lù shàngbān, wánquán shì guàn xìng.He walks the same road to work every day; it's purely force of habit.
- 惯性。Gǎibiàn jiù guàn xìng xūyào shíjiān hé juéxīn.Changing old habits requires time and determination.
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