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标志性 (biāo zhì xìng) — symbolic, emblematic; landmark, iconic

Definition

Used to describe something that stands for or represents a place, time, or idea in a way everyone recognizes — like a 'landmark' building or an 'iconic' moment. As a suffix (-性) it turns 标志 into an adjective meaning 'symbolic of'.

adjective
symbolicemblematiclandmarkiconic

Examples

  • 标志性。
    Zhè zuò dà lóu shì chéng shì de biāo zhì xìng jiàn zhù.
    This building is a landmark structure of the city.
  • 标志性。
    Zhè ge shì jiàn jù yǒu biāo zhì xìng yì yì.
    This event carries symbolic meaning.
  • 标志性。
    Tā de yǎn jiǎng shì yí gè biāo zhì xìng shí kè.
    His speech was an iconic moment.

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.

标志symbol
标biāomark志zhìsign
联合Coordinate
性xìngquality

标志, a mark, and 性, a quality, give the sense of being symbolic.

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 標; 标 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
票
票piào標biāo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 標 pairs 木 with 票, and 票 gives the sound; the simplified 标 is the modern form of that traditional character.

Open 标 →

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
心心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
之
之zhī志zhì
Same sound today

志 has 心, the heart, below and a simplified top from 之 for sound.

Open 志 →

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
Abstract Concepts

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