甘于 (gān yú) — to be willing to accept (something less ideal); to be content with; to gladly take on (a role or situation)

Definition

Literary/formal verb meaning to willingly accept something hard, humble, or unpleasant (e.g. 甘于平凡, 甘于奉献). Pairs only with verbs of sacrifice, loss, or low status — not used for ordinary preferences.

verb
to be willing to accept (something less ideal)to be content withto gladly take on (a role or situation)

Examples

  • 甘于，。
    Tā gān yú píng fán, bù qiú míng lì.
    He is content with being ordinary and does not seek fame or profit.
  • 甘于。
    Tā gān yú fèng xiàn zì jǐ de quán bù jīng lì.
    She is willing to dedicate all her energy.
  • 甘于。
    Zhēn zhèng de yīng xióng gān yú chéng shòu gū dú.
    True heroes are willing to bear loneliness.

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.

甘gānwilling
于yú

甘 gives willingness and 于 points to what is accepted.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

甘 originally drew an open mouth with something sweet inside it. This gives the sense of sweet or pleasant.

Open 甘 →

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

  • 一一yīflat stream of air
  • 丂丂kǎoto exhale

The old shape of 于 may have pictured an ancient wind instrument. Another explanation reads 一 as a flat stream of air and 丂 as an exhaling mark.

Open 于 →

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