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现代感 (xiàn dài gǎn) — sense of modernity

Definition

A noun meaning the 'feel' or 'look' of being modern (in design, fashion, products, etc.). It focuses on the aesthetic impression of modernity, not the time period itself (现代).

noun
sense of modernity

Examples

  • 现代感。
    Zhè ge fáng jiān de shè jì hěn yǒu xiàn dài gǎn.
    This room's design has a strong sense of modernity.
  • 现代感。
    Xīn dà lóu de wài guān chōng mǎn le xiàn dài gǎn.
    The new building's exterior is full of a sense of modernity.
  • 现代感。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī de chǎn pǐn hěn yǒu xiàn dài gǎn.
    This company's products have a strong sense of modernity.

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.

现代modern
现xiànpresent代dàiera
偏正Modifier + head
感gǎnsense

现代 supplies the idea of the present era, and 感 adds a felt sense, yielding a sense of modernity.

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 →

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
咸
咸xián感gǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

感 pairs 咸, which gives the sound, with 心, the heart, for feeling.

Open 感 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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