极度 (jí dù) — extremely | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Formal adverb meaning 'extremely,' used in writing and reports. Unlike 极其, it pairs easily with both emotions (极度紧张) and states (极度失望), and is broader than 极端, which also functions as a noun meaning 'an extreme.'

adverb

extremely

Easily confused

嫉妒jí dùsound-aliketo be jealous of; to envy

Examples

极度。
Kǎo shì qián tā gǎn dào jí dù jǐn zhāng.
He felt extremely nervous before the exam.
极度。
Zhè zuò chéng shì de fáng jià jí dù gāo.
Housing prices in this city are extremely high.
极度。
Tā duì zhè ge jié guǒ jí dù shī wàng.
He was extremely disappointed with this result.

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.

极jíextreme

度dùdegree

极 gives extreme, and 度 gives degree, so the whole means an extreme degree.

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.

木及极

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree, wood

Sound part声符shēngfú

及

及jí极jí

Same sound today

极 pairs 木 (tree, wood) with 及, which provides the sound.

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

又又yòuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

石

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

度 has 又 (hand) and a changed form of 石; 石 gives a related sound, and the hand is tied to using the hand as a reference for measurement.

Appears in

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