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温存 (wēn cún) — gentle and attentive; tender and considerate (especially in close relationships)

Definition

温存 describes a gentle, attentive warmth in close personal relationships (between lovers, family). It is more literary than 温柔 and emphasizes caring actions toward someone, not just a soft manner.

adjective
gentle and attentivetender and considerate (especially in close relationships)

Examples

  • 温存，。
    Tā duì qī zi shí fēn wēn cún, zǒng shì xì xīn zhào gù tā de gǎn shòu.
    He is very gentle and attentive to his wife, always carefully considering her feelings.
  • ，温存。
    Lí bié qián, tā men hù xiāng shuō le xǔ duō wēn cún de huà.
    Before parting, they exchanged many tender words.
  • 温存。
    Tā nà zhǒng wēn cún de xiào róng ràng rén gǎn dào ān xīn.
    Her kind and gentle smile makes people feel at ease.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

温wēnwarm
存cúncare

温 gives warmth and 存 suggests care or tenderness, together describing gentle attentiveness.

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 溫; 温 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 溫 is based on an older form 𥁕, which drew a person bathing in a container full of warm water. The simplified 温 is a later variant.

Open 温 →

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
子子zǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
才
才cái存cún
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

存 pairs 子 with 才, which was used for the sound.

Open 存 →
Appears in
Emotions & FeelingsPersonality & Traits

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