核心 (hé xīn) — core, nucleus (the central or most important pa… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

核心 is the 'core' of an abstract issue or system (e.g. 核心问题, 核心利益). 中心 is more spatial or institutional (a place), 重心 emphasizes a shifted main focus.

noun

corenucleus (the central or most important part)

Examples

核心。
Bǎo hù guó jiā hé xīn lì yì shì wǒ men de zé rèn.
Protecting the core interests of the country is our responsibility.
核心。
hé xīn Jià zhí guān duì shè huì fā zhǎn hěn zhòng yào.
Core values are very important for social development.
核心？
Zhè cì tǎo lùn de hé xīn wèn tí shì shén me?
What is the core issue of this discussion?

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.

核hékernel

The 核 part gives the idea of a kernel, while 心 points to the central part, together meaning the essential center.

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.

木亥核

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree

Sound part声符shēngfú

亥

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

核 pairs 木, a tree, with 亥 to give its sound; it originally named a kind of tree, and its later meanings are borrowed.

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

The shape of 心 comes from a drawing of a heart, now highly stylized.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 5 Abstract Concepts

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