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满足 (mǎn zú) — to satisfy, to meet (needs/requirements); to be satisfied (with); to be content (with)

Definition

满足 can be transitive ('to meet needs/requirements') or intransitive ('to be content') — both senses in one word. 满意 is only the intransitive 'satisfied with' and needs 对 + object.

verb
to satisfyto meet (needs/requirements)to be satisfied (with)to be content (with)

Examples

  • 满足。
    Tā nǔ lì gōng zuò lái mǎn zú jiā tíng de xū yào.
    He works hard to meet his family's needs.
  • 满足。
    Wǒ duì zhè ge jié guǒ hěn mǎn zú.
    I am very satisfied with this result.
  • 满足。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī de chǎn pǐn bù néng mǎn zú gù kè de yāo qiú.
    This company's products cannot satisfy the customers' requirements.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

满mǎnfull
足zúenough

Both 满 and 足 convey enough or fullness, together meaning contentment.

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 滿; 满 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
㒼
㒼㒼滿mǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 滿 pairs 水, showing water, with 㒼, giving the sound. The simplified 满 is a later shorthand, not the original shape.

Open 满 →

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

足 was originally drawn as a leg.

Open 足 →
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