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本质 (běn zhì) — essence; nature; intrinsic quality

Definition

本质 is 'essence' — the fundamental nature of a thing, not just its surface features. 实质 is a near synonym but emphasizes the 'substance/content' inside; 本性 refers to a being's innate character.

noun
essencenatureintrinsic quality
Easily confused

Examples

  • 本质。
    Zhè liǎng gè wèn tí zài běn zhì shàng shì xiāng tóng de.
    These two problems are the same in essence.
  • ，本质。
    Kàn wèn tí bù néng zhī kàn biǎo miàn, yào zhuā zhù běn zhì.
    When looking at a problem, don't just look at the surface; you must grasp the essence.
  • 本质。
    Wǒ men yào tōng guò xiàn xiàng rèn shi shì wù de běn zhì.
    We must understand the essence of things through phenomena.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

本běnfundamental
质zhìquality

本 gives the idea of fundamental, and 质 is quality, together meaning intrinsic nature.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

本 adds a stroke at the bottom of a tree shape to mark the roots, giving the sense of foundation or original.

Open 本 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 質; 质 is its simplified writing.

  • 斦斦yín
  • 貝貝bèi

The traditional form 質 is made up of 貝 and 斦; this describes 質, not the simplified 质.

Open 质 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Abstract Concepts

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