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盛怒 (shèng nù) — great anger, wrath (formal, literary)

Definition

A formal, literary noun for 'great anger' or 'wrath' — stronger than everyday 生气. Mostly seen in writing or set phrases like 盛怒之下.

noun
great angerwrath (formal, literary)

Examples

  • 盛怒。
    Tā shèng nù zhī xià shuāi le bēi zi.
    In a fit of rage, he threw the cup.
  • 盛怒，。
    Miàn duì fù qīn de shèng nù, tā yí jù huà yě bù gǎn shuō.
    Faced with his father's wrath, he didn't dare say a word.
  • 盛怒。
    Zhè chǎng chōng tū yuán yú yì shí de shèng nù.
    This conflict originated from a moment of great anger.

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.

盛shènggreat
怒nùanger

盛 gives fullness or great degree; 怒 is anger, so it means great anger.

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
皿皿mǐn
Sound part声符shēngfú
成
成chéng盛shèng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

盛 combines 成 as a sound part with 皿 as a meaning part; the 皿 side points to a vessel, which fits meanings such as hold and fill.

Open 盛 →

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
奴
奴nú怒nù
Same sound today

怒 pairs 心 (heart) with 奴, which is used for its sound rather than its meaning of slave.

Open 怒 →
Appears in
Emotions & Feelings

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