来势 (lái shì) — the force or intensity with which something starts or arrives; onset; momentum

Definition

来势 (láishì) names the momentum or intensity at which something (a storm, attack, trend) starts. Often paired with 凶猛, 猛, or 不小 to describe onset force.

noun
the force or intensity with which something starts or arrivesonsetmomentum
Easily confused

Examples

  • 来势，。
    Zhè chǎng bào yǔ lái shì xiōng měng, hěn duō dì fāng dōu yān le.
    This rainstorm hit with fierce force; many places were flooded.
  • 来势，。
    Dí rén de lái shì hěn měng, dàn wǒ men shǒu zhù le zhèn dì.
    The enemy's onslaught was intense, but we held our position.
  • 来势，。
    Zhè gǔ xīn cháo liú lái shì bù xiǎo, gǎi biàn le hěn duō rén de guān niàn.
    This new trend came with considerable momentum and changed many people's ideas.

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.

来láicoming
势shìforce

The 来 'coming' part describes the 势 'force' or momentum of something's arrival.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 is a later shorthand.

Open 来 →

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 勢; 势 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìpower
Sound part声符shēngfú
埶
埶yì勢shì
Same sound today

The traditional form 勢 combines 力, meaning power, with 埶 for the sound. The simplified 势 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original parts.

Open 势 →

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