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洞察力 (dòng chá lì) — insight; discernment

Definition

洞察力 is the ability to perceive deeply and see through surface details to the underlying truth — sharper and more penetrative than ordinary 'insight'. Less common than 眼光 or 见解; used for penetrating judgment in professional or analytical contexts.

noun
insightdiscernment

Examples

  • 洞察力，。
    Tā jù yǒu mǐn ruì de dòng chá lì, néng kàn tòu wèn tí de běn zhì.
    He has keen insight and can see through the essence of problems.
  • ，洞察力。
    Zài shāng yè jué cè zhōng, dòng chá lì bǐ shù jù gèng zhòng yào.
    In business decision-making, insight is more important than data.
  • 洞察力。
    Tā de wén xué dòng chá lì ràng tā chéng wéi le yí wèi yōu xiù de píng lùn jiā.
    Her literary discernment made her an excellent critic.

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.

洞察penetrating observation
洞dòngpenetrate察cháobserve
偏正Modifier + head
力lìability

洞察 means penetrating observation, and 力 adds the sense of ability, giving the power to discern.

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
同
同tóng洞dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

洞 combines 水 (water) with 同, which gives the sound tóng.

Open 洞 →

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
祭
祭jì察chá
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape 察 combines 宀, a roof, with 祭 as the sound part.

Open 察 →

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

力 is drawn as either an arm bending out from the side of the body or a wooden plough.

Open 力 →
Appears in
Thinking & Cognition

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