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概论 (gài lùn) — a general introduction or survey (of a subject); outline

Definition

概论 is a written, academic title for a book or course that gives a broad survey of a subject. Compared to 大纲/纲要 (a structural outline or key points) and 简介 (a short summary), 概论 covers whole-field overview, often as a title.

noun
a general introduction or survey (of a subject)outline

Examples

  • 《概论》。
    《Shè huì xué gài lùn》 shì dà xué yī nián jí de jī chǔ kè.
    Introduction to Sociology is a basic course for first-year university students.
  • 概论。
    Zhè piān lùn wén de gài lùn bù fen xū yào zài bǔ chōng yì xiē nèi róng.
    The overview section of this paper needs to add some more content.
  • 概论，。
    Qǐng xiān dú yí xià zhè běn jiào cái de gài lùn, liǎo jiě quán shū jié gòu.
    Please first read the introduction of this textbook to understand the structure of the whole book.

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.

概gàigeneral
论lùndiscussion

概 (general) 论 (discussion) forms a broad introduction.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
既
既jì概gài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

概 pairs 木 (wood) with 既 as its sound part; the character meant a strickle.

Open 概 →

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 論; 论 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánsay
Sound part声符shēngfú
侖
侖lún論lùn
Same sound today

The traditional form 論 pairs 言 (“say”) with 侖 as a sound component; the simplified 论 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 论 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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