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现代化 (xiàn dài huà) — to modernize

Definition

Verb meaning 'to modernize' — making something up-to-date in technology, methods, or systems. Also used as a noun ('modernization') for the broader process itself.

verb
to modernize
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 现代化。
    Zhè jiā gōng chǎng zhèng zài xiàn dài huà qí shēng chǎn shè bèi.
    This factory is modernizing its production equipment.
  • 现代化。
    Zhèng fǔ jì huà xiàn dài huà nóng cūn de jiāo tōng xì tǒng.
    The government plans to modernize the rural transportation system.
  • 现代化，。
    Wǒ men xū yào xiàn dài huà jiào yù fāng fǎ, yǐ shì yìng xīn shí dài.
    We need to modernize our teaching methods to adapt to the new era.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

现代modern
现xiànpresent代dàiera
偏正Modifier + head
化huàsuffix: -ize

现代 points to the present era, and 化 adds the sense of turning into, so 现代化 is to make something modern.

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 現; 现 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
見
見jiàn現
Same sound today

The traditional form 現 pairs 玉 (jade) with 見 as a sound part; the simplified 现 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 现 →

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
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
弋
弋yì代dài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 代, 亻 shows a person, and 弋 gives the sound.

Open 代 →

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

化 shows two person figures, one upright and one upside down, to give the idea of reversal or change.

Open 化 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5Change & Process

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