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潜质 (qián zhì) — (n.) latent potential, inherent quality (of a person)

Definition

Refers to a person's hidden, undeveloped ability or quality — 'latent potential' already inside someone, not yet realized. More about innate capacity than 能力 (current, demonstrated skill).

noun
(n.) latent potentialinherent quality (of a person)

Examples

  • 潜质。
    Zhè ge hái zi yǒu hěn hǎo de yì shù qián zhì.
    This child has great artistic potential.
  • 潜质。
    Gōng sī kàn zhòng le tā shēn shàng fā zhǎn de qián zhì.
    The company recognized the developmental potential in him.
  • 潜质？
    Nǐ jué de tā yǒu méi yǒu dāng lǐng dǎo de qián zhì?
    Do you think he has the potential to be a leader?

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.

潜qiánlatent
质zhìquality

“潜” gives latent and “质” gives quality, together meaning inherent potential.

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 潛; 潜 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
朁
朁cǎn潛qián
Same sound today

The form 潛 has 水 as a meaning part and 朁 as a sound part; this note is about 潛, not the simplified 潜.

Open 潜 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 質; 质 is its simplified writing.

  • 斦斦yín
  • 貝貝bèi

The traditional form 質 is made up of 貝 and 斦; this describes 質, not the simplified 质.

Open 质 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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