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洞悉 (dòng xī) — to have a thorough understanding; to see through; to have deep insight into

Definition

A formal, written verb meaning 'to see through' or grasp something hidden with complete insight — stronger and more literary than 了解, more penetrating than 理解 because it implies piercing to the truth beneath the surface.

verb
to have a thorough understandingto see throughto have deep insight into

Examples

  • 洞悉。
    Tā dòng xī le shì qing de zhēn xiàng.
    He saw through the truth of the matter.
  • 洞悉。
    Zhǐ yǒu zhuān jiā cái néng dòng xī zhè ge fù zá de wèn tí.
    Only experts can thoroughly understand this complex problem.
  • 洞悉，。
    Tā dòng xī rén xìng de ruò diǎn, yīn cǐ néng gòu shuō fú tā rén.
    He has deep insight into human weaknesses, so he can persuade others.

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.

洞dòngpenetrate
悉xīknow

洞 adds the sense of penetrating thoroughly, while 悉 means know, giving clear understanding.

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 釆釆biànto distinguish
  • 心心xīnheart

悉 has 釆, meaning “to distinguish,” above 心, meaning “heart.”

Open 悉 →
Appears in
Thinking & Cognition

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