TongTong
Sign in

暂时性 (zàn shí xìng) — transiency, temporary nature, provisionality

Definition

A noun meaning the quality or fact of being temporary (as opposed to long-lasting or permanent). Often paired with 的 to modify another noun, e.g. 暂时性的工作.

noun
transiencytemporary natureprovisionality

Examples

  • 暂时性。
    Zhè zhǒng gōng zuò de zàn shí xìng ràng hěn duō rén gǎn dào bù ān.
    The temporary nature of this job makes many people feel uneasy.
  • 暂时性，。
    zàn shí xìng Suī rán shì wèn tí, dàn wǒ men zhǐ néng jiē shòu.
    Though transiency is a problem, we can only accept it.
  • 暂时性。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù de zàn shí xìng yì wèi zhe wǒ men xū yào kuài sù wán chéng.
    The short-term nature of this project means we need to complete it quickly.

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.

暂时temporary
暂zàntemporary时shítime
偏正Modifier + head
性xìngsuffix

暂时 means 'temporary', and 性 gives the abstract sense of temporary nature.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 暫; 暂 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
日日rì
Sound part声符shēngfú
斬
斬zhǎn暫zàn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 暫 has 日 (day) for the meaning and 斬 (zhǎn) for the sound; the simplified 暂 is a later shorthand.

Open 暂 →

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 時; 时 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
日日rìsun; day
Sound part声符shēngfú
之
之zhī時shí
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 時 pairs 日 (sun/day) with 之 as the part that gives the sound; the simplified 时 is not the form described.

Open 时 →

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 →
Appears in
Time (Abstract)

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.