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技术 (jì shù) — technology; technique; skill

Definition

技术 covers both 'technology' (machines, methods) and 'skill/technique' a person masters — see examples 1–2 vs 3. 技能 narrows to personal ability, 技巧 to the clever knack in a specific task.

noun
technologytechniqueskill
Measure word · 门, 种, 项

Examples

  • 技术。
    Tā xué le sān nián jì suàn jī jì shù.
    He studied computer technology for three years.
  • 技术。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī yòng xīn jì shù shēng chǎn chǎn pǐn.
    This company uses new technology to produce products.
  • 技术，。
    Tā zhǎng wò le yì mén jì shù, zhǎo gōng zuò hěn róng yì.
    He mastered a skill, so finding a job is very easy.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

技jìskill
术shùtechnique

The skill 技 and technique 术 together mean technology or expertise.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
支
支zhī技jì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

技 pairs 扌 (hand) with 支, which gives the sound. The hand part fits the idea of skill or ability done with the hands.

Open 技 →

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 術; 术 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
行行xíngstreet, path
Sound part声符shēngfú
朮
朮zhú術shù
Same sound today

The traditional form 術 has 行 (street, path) beside 朮, which gives the sound; the simplified 术 is a later shorthand.

Open 术 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4Technology & Engineering2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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