盛行 (shèng xíng) — to be prevalent; to be in vogue; to be very pop… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

盛行 is a formal verb meaning 'to prevail / be widespread' over a period (eras, customs, diseases). It is more literary and broader in scope than 流行 ('trendy, in fashion'), which usually refers to current fashions or spreading news.

verb

to be prevalentto be in vogueto be very popular

Examples

盛行。
Zhè zhǒng dǎ bàn zài nián qīng rén zhōng shí fēn shèng xíng.
This style of dress is very popular among young people.
，盛行。
Xià tiān shí, zhè zhǒng chuán rǎn bìng róng yì shèng xíng.
In summer, this infectious disease tends to be prevalent.
盛行。
Nà ge cháo dài shèng xíng yì zhǒng dú tè de fēng sú.
That dynasty saw a unique custom prevail.

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shèngflourishing

盛 (flourishing) and 行 (go) together mean something is widely prevalent.

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.

成皿盛

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.

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

彳亍行

彳彳chì
亍亍chù

The shape of 行 originally showed a street intersection, even on both sides. Later it became uneven, with 彳 on the left and 亍 on the right.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Abstract Concepts Society & Public Life

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