方向性 (fāng xiàng xìng) — directionality; sense of direction

Definition

A noun suffix meaning 'directionality' — the quality of having a clear direction or orientation, used for policies, strategies, or a person's sense of direction. Pairs with 有/具有/失去 and keeps a slightly formal, written register.

noun
directionalitysense of direction

Examples

  • 方向性。
    Zhè xiàng zhèng cè jù yǒu míng què de fāng xiàng xìng.
    This policy has a clear directionality.
  • 方向性。
    Tā zài sēn lín lǐ wán quán shī qù le fāng xiàng xìng.
    He completely lost his sense of direction in the forest.
  • 方向性。
    Gōng sī de fā zhǎn xū yào gèng qiáng de fāng xiàng xìng.
    The company's development needs stronger directionality.

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.

方向direction
方fāngdirection向xiàngdirection
联合Side by side
性xìng-ness

方向 gives direction, and 性 adds the sense of a quality or tendency.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 方 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

向 originally drew 宀 (house) with 口 to show an echo in a place; later it was used for direction.

Open 向 →

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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