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所谓 (suǒ wèi) — so-called (often implying doubt, irony, or skepticism); what is called (neutral, used to introduce a term or concept)

Definition

所谓 introduces or quotes a term, and often carries a skeptical, ironic tone — implying the thing does not deserve the label. Contrast with 假定, which frames something as a working assumption rather than a quoted label.

adjective
so-called (often implying doubt, irony, or skepticism)what is called (neutral, used to introduce a term or concept)

Examples

  • 所谓“”。
    suǒ wèi De "zì yóu" qí shí shì yǒu tiáo jiàn de.
    The so-called "freedom" actually has conditions.
  • 所谓，。
    suǒ wèi Ài qíng, bú guò shì hù xiāng lǐ jiě hé zhī chí.
    What is called love is nothing but mutual understanding and support.
  • 所谓，。
    Tā suǒ wèi de zhuān jiā shēn fèn, gēn běn méi rén rèn kě.
    His so-called expert status is not recognized by anyone at all.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

所suǒthe thing involved
谓wèisay/call

所 points to the thing involved and 谓 adds say/call, giving a term being called.

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
斤斤jīnaxe
Sound part声符shēngfú
戶
戶hù所suǒ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

所 pairs 斤, an axe, with 戶, which gives the sound hù; the old meaning was the sound of logging.

Open 所 →

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 謂; 谓 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
胃
胃wèi謂wèi
Same sound today

The traditional form 謂 pairs 言, which marks speech, with 胃 as a sound component; the simplified 谓 is a later abbreviation.

Open 谓 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 5Abstract Concepts2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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