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现实主义 (xiàn shí zhǔ yì) — realism (in art, literature, or philosophy); political realism (realpolitik approach in international relations)

Definition

Means 'realism' in two main senses: an artistic/literary style depicting life truthfully, and a political theory of international relations (realpolitik). Pairs with 浪漫主义 (romanticism) in art, and with 理想主义 (idealism) in political theory.

noun
realism (in art, literature, or philosophy)political realism (realpolitik approach in international relations)

Examples

  • 19现实主义。
    Zhè bù xiǎo shuō fǎn yìng le 19 shì jì de xiàn shí zhǔ yì fēng gé.
    This novel reflects the realist style of the 19th century.
  • 现实主义。
    xiàn shí zhǔ yì Zài dāng dài guó jì guān xì zhōng réng rán shì yì zhǒng zhòng yào de lǐ lùn.
    Realism remains an important theory in contemporary international relations.
  • 现实主义，。
    Tā shì yí wèi jiān dìng de xiàn shí zhǔ yì zuò jiā, zuò pǐn miáo xiě shè huì dǐ céng de shēng huó.
    He is a firm realist writer; his works depict the lives of the bottom of society.

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.

现实reality
现xiàncurrent实shíreal
联合Coordinate
主义-ism
主zhǔ义yì

现实 refers to reality, and 主义 names a doctrine or -ism.

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 實; 实 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánroof
  • 周周zhōucarved jade
  • 貝貝bèishellfish; cowrie

The traditional form 實 has 宀 'roof' above 周 'carved jade' and 貝 'cowrie'; the simplified 实 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 实 →

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

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

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 義; 义 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
我
我wǒ義yì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 義 has 我 giving the sound and 羊 meaning good or auspicious; the simplified 义 is a later abbreviation.

Open 义 →
Appears in
Art & Fine Arts

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