批判性 (pī pàn xìng) — criticalness, the quality of being critical (as in critical thinking)

Definition

Abstract noun suffix meaning 'the quality of being critical' — used almost entirely to form set phrases like 批判性思维 ('critical thinking') and 批判性分析 ('critical analysis').

noun
criticalnessthe quality of being critical (as in critical thinking)

Examples

  • 批判性。
    Dà xué jiào yù yīng gāi péi yǎng xué shēng de pī pàn xìng sī wéi.
    University education should cultivate students' critical thinking.
  • 批判性。
    Zhè piān lùn wén quē fá pī pàn xìng fēn xī.
    This paper lacks critical analysis.
  • 批判性。
    pī pàn xìng Sī kǎo néng lì zài xiàn dài shè huì fēi cháng zhòng yào.
    The ability to think critically is very important in modern society.

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.

批判criticize and judge
批pīcriticize判pànjudge
联合Side by side
性xìngquality

批判 means judge or criticize; 性 gives the sense of a quality, so 批判性 is criticalness.

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
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
比
比bǐ批pī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

批 puts 手 (hand) beside 比, which gives the sound.

Open 批 →

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
刀刀dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
半
半bàn判pàn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

判 combines 刀, a knife, with 半, which provides the sound.

Open 判 →

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
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.

Open 性 →

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