感应 (gǎn yìng) — (physics) induction (electromagnetic or electrostatic); response (to a stimulus); reaction; (emotional) rapport; affinity; mutual resonance

Definition

Literally 'feel-and-respond': covers both physical induction (electromagnetic/electrostatic) and a figurative sense of natural, unspoken emotional rapport between people.

noun
(physics) induction (electromagnetic or electrostatic)response (to a stimulus)reaction(emotional) rapportaffinitymutual resonance

Examples

  • 感应。
    Diàn cí gǎn yìng shì xiàn dài diàn lì jì shù de hé xīn yuán lǐ zhī yī.
    Electromagnetic induction is one of the core principles of modern electrical technology.
  • 感应。
    Zhí wù duì guāng xiàn biàn huà yǒu líng mǐn de gǎn yìng.
    Plants have a sensitive response to changes in light.
  • 感应，。
    Tā men zhī jiān yǒu yì zhǒng qí miào de gǎn yìng, wú xū yán yǔ jiù néng lǐ jiě duì fāng.
    There is a wonderful rapport between them — they understand each other without needing words.

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.

感gǎnfeel
应yìngrespond

The meanings of 感 and 应 are parallel, giving a response or mutual reaction.

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
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 →

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 應; 应 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
䧹
䧹䧹應yìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 應 pairs 心 (heart) with 䧹 as a sound part; the simplified 应 is a later shorthand and its parts are not the original components.

Open 应 →
Appears in
Physics & Chemistry

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