惰性 (duò xìng) — inertia | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

In physics, 惰性 is the property of matter to keep its state of motion (i.e. inertia). In daily use it means a person's or group's tendency to resist change — a habit of staying the same.

noun

inertia

Examples

惰性。
duò xìng Shì wù zhì bǎo chí yùn dòng zhuàng tài bú biàn de xìng zhì.
Inertia is the property of matter that keeps it in its state of motion.
惰性。
Gōng sī de gǎi gé shòu dào le yuán gōng duò xìng de zǔ ài.
The company's reform was hindered by the inertia of its employees.
惰性。
Kè fú duò xìng xū yào qiáng dà de dòng lì hé jué xīn.
Overcoming inertia requires strong motivation and determination.

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.

性xìngquality

惰 conveys inertness, and 性 adds the sense of a quality.

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

忄Written in full as心xīnheart; mind

Sound part声符shēngfú

隋

隋suí惰duò

Same sound today

惰 pairs 忄, the heart/mind part, with 隋, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

忄生性

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.

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