理想 (lǐ xiǎng) — (noun) ideal; dream; (adjective) ideal; perfect | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

As a noun, 理想 means an 'ideal' or life aspiration — more about a personal goal than 梦想, which emphasizes an exciting, cherished dream. As an adjective it means 'ideal, perfect,' close to 完美 but less absolute.

noun

idealdream

adjective

idealperfect

Examples

理想。
Tā yǒu yí gè hěn dà de lǐ xiǎng.
She has a very big dream.
理想。
Zhè ge jì huà hěn lǐ xiǎng.
This plan is ideal.
理想。
Xiàn shí yǔ lǐ xiǎng cháng cháng bù tóng.
Reality and ideals are often different.

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.

理lǐprinciple

想xiǎngthought

理 (principle) and 想 (thought) combine to mean an ideal or dream.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

玉玉yùjade

Sound part声符shēngfú

里

里lǐ理lǐ

Same sound today

理 pairs 玉 (jade) with 里, which shows how to say it; the jade part points to the old sense of polishing jade.

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

相心想

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart, mind

Sound part声符shēngfú

相

相xiāng想xiǎng

Same sound today

想 has 心 (heart, mind) below 相 (to look at); the shape shows the mind looking at or considering something, and 相 also gives the sound.

Appears in

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