气盛 (qì chéng) — (of a person) overbearing, arrogant, aggressive; (of writing, style) forceful, vigorous

Definition

Describes a person or their attitude as arrogant and overbearing — literally 'overblown qi.' Also used of writing or style as forceful and vigorous.

adjective
(of a person) overbearingarrogantaggressive(of writing, style) forcefulvigorous

Examples

  • ，。
    Tā zhè ge rén qì chéng dé hěn, zǒng shì kàn bù qǐ bié rén.
    He is very overbearing and always looks down on others.
  • 气盛，。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng qì chéng, dú qǐ lái hěn yǒu lì liàng.
    This essay is forceful — it feels very powerful to read.
  • 气盛。
    Tā nà qì chéng de tài dù ràng rén hěn bù shū fu.
    His arrogant attitude makes people very uncomfortable.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

气qìspirit
盛shèngvigorous

气 refers to spirit or temperament, and 盛 means vigorous or abundant, so together they describe strong or overbearing 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
皿皿mǐn
Sound part声符shēngfú
成
成chéng盛shèng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

盛 combines 成 as a sound part with 皿 as a meaning part; the 皿 side points to a vessel, which fits meanings such as hold and fill.

Open 盛 →

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