TongTong
Sign in

气概 (qì gài) — mettle; spirit; courageous and determined character

Definition

Literary/formal noun for 'mettle, spirit' — the brave, unyielding character a person or group shows under pressure. More elevated and written than 精神 jīngshén (spirit in general).

noun
mettlespiritcourageous and determined character

Examples

  • 气概。
    Tā miàn duì kùn nan shí zhǎn xiàn chū le fēi fán de qì gài.
    He displayed extraordinary mettle when facing difficulties.
  • 气概。
    Zhè wèi yīng xióng de qì gài lìng rén jìng pèi.
    This hero's spirit is admirable.
  • 气概。
    Zhōng huá mín zú de qì gài zài wēi nàn shí kè biǎo xiàn dé lín lí jìn zhì.
    The mettle of the Chinese nation was fully demonstrated in times of crisis.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

气qìspirit
概gàibearing

气 gives the sense of spirit or breath, and 概 contributes bearing or air; together they mean courageous spirit.

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 2.0 Level 6Personality & Traits

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.