相中 (xiāng zhòng) — (colloquial) to take a liking to, to settle on

Definition

Colloquial verb meaning 'to take a liking to, to settle on' (a person, item, or option after looking around). Implies a deliberate choice — not casual preference, but actually picking one.

verb
(colloquial) to take a liking toto settle on

Examples

  • ，相中。
    Tā qù le sān jiā diàn, zuì hòu xiāng zhòng le yì zhǒng lán sè de chuāng lián.
    He went to three stores and finally settled on a kind of blue curtain.
  • ，相中。
    Miàn shì le jǐ gè hòu xuǎn rén, lǎo bǎn yì yǎn jiù xiāng zhòng tā le.
    After interviewing several candidates, the boss took a liking to her at first glance.
  • 相中，。
    Zhè tào jiā jù wǒ zǎo jiù xiāng zhòng le, jīn tiān zhōng yú mǎi le.
    I had already taken a liking to this set of furniture, and today I finally bought it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

相xiānglook over
中zhōnghit or approve

相 means to look over and 中 means to hit or approve, giving the sense of taking a liking to or settling on.

Characters in this word

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

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

Open 相 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The original picture showed a flagpole with a drum in the middle, set up in the center of a field.

Open 中 →

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