浑厚 (hún hòu) — simple and honest (of a person's character); simple and vigorous (of writing, painting, music, etc.)

Definition

Adjective for a quality that is rich, weighty, and full — used of a person's character (simple, sincere, honest), an artistic style (vigorous, powerful), or a voice (deep, resonant).

adjective
simple and honest (of a person's character)simple and vigorous (of writing, painting, music, etc.)

Examples

  • 浑厚，。
    Tā zhè ge rén hěn hún hòu, cóng lái bù gēn bié rén jì jiào.
    He is a simple and honest person, never fussing with others.
  • 浑厚，。
    Zhè fú huà de bǐ fǎ hún hòu yǒu lì, hěn yǒu qì shì.
    The brushwork of this painting is simple and vigorous, full of momentum.
  • 浑厚，。
    Tā de shēng yīn hún hòu dī chén, hěn yǒu cí xìng.
    His voice is deep and rich, very magnetic.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

浑húnsimple/pure
厚hòufull/thick

浑 suggests simple purity and 厚 suggests fullness, together describing plain yet vigorous quality.

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 渾; 浑 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐriver
Sound part声符shēngfú
軍
軍jūn渾hún
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 渾 pairs 氵 (river) with 軍 to give the sound; the simplified 浑 is a later shorthand, and its right side is not the historical component.

Open 浑 →

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

  • 厂厂chǎngcliff; cave on a cliff
  • 𣆪𣆪𣆪jug

The shape of 厚 puts 𣆪, a jug, beneath 厂, a cliff or cave.

Open 厚 →

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