环境 (huán jìng) — environment; surroundings; circumstances | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

环境 (huánjìng) means 'environment' in a broad sense — the physical setting, social conditions, or situation around you. More general and abstract than 周围 (just physical surroundings) or 气候 (weather/atmosphere).

noun

environmentsurroundingscircumstances

Measure word · 个

Examples

环境。
Wǒ men yīng gāi bǎo hù huán jìng.
We should protect the environment.
环境。
Zhè ge bàn gōng shì de gōng zuò huán jìng hěn hǎo.
The working environment in this office is very good.
环境。
Wǒ xǐ huan ān jìng de xué xí huán jìng.
I like quiet study environments.

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.

'环' (around) and '境' (region) together mean the surrounding area.

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 環; 环 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

玉玉yùjade

Sound part声符shēngfú

睘

睘qióng環huán

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 環 pairs 玉 (jade) with a sound part; the simplified 环 is a shorthand and its right side is not the historical sound part.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

土竟境

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔearth

Sound part声符shēngfú

竟

竟jìng境jìng

Same sound today

境 pairs 土 (earth) with 竟, which gives the sound; the 土 part carries the meaning.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 3 HSK 2.0 Level 3 Environment & Ecology 3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words 5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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