感激 (gǎn jī) — to be grateful, to appreciate | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal-feeling verb for feeling deeply grateful. Unlike 感谢, it focuses on the inner feeling rather than expressing thanks; stronger and more written than 感恩.

verb

to be gratefulto appreciate

Examples

感激。
Wǒ fēi cháng gǎn jī nǐ de zhī chí.
I am very grateful for your support.
感激。
Tā gǎn jī zhàng fu yì zhí yǐ lái de guān xīn.
She appreciates her husband's care all along.
感激。
Wǒ men gǎn jī nín néng lái cān jiā wǒ men de hūn lǐ.
We appreciate that you could come to our wedding.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

Feel 感 and stir 激 together build gratitude.

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.

咸心感

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.

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

氵敫激

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

敫

敫jiǎo激jī

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 激, the 氵 side marks water, and 敫 gives the sound jiǎo; the original sense is water swashing.

Appears in

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