理想国 (lǐ xiǎng guó) — utopia | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

utopia

Examples

理想国。
Tā xīn mù zhōng de lǐ xiǎng guó shì yí gè méi yǒu pín kùn hé zhàn zhēng de shì jiè.
The utopia in his mind is a world without poverty and war.
，理想国。
Hěn duō rén rèn wéi, wán quán de lǐ xiǎng guó zhǐ shì huàn xiǎng.
Many people think that a complete utopia is just an illusion.
理想国。
Zhè běn shū miáo shù le yí gè xū gòu de lǐ xiǎng guó.
This book describes a fictional utopia.

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.

理想ideal

理lǐrational想xiǎngthought

偏正Modifier + head

理想 pictures a perfectly reasoned vision, and 国 names the state.

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.

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 國; 国 is its simplified writing.

囗或國

Meaning part形符xíngfú

囗囗wéiclosure

Sound part声符shēngfú

或

或huò國guó

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 國 uses 囗 to show closure and 或 to give the sound.

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