真性 (zhēn xìng) — true nature; genuine quality | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Refers to something that is genuine or essential rather than secondary or apparent — for example, 'true nature' (as opposed to outward appearance) or 'essential hypertension' (primary, not caused by another condition).

noun

true naturegenuine quality

Examples

真性。
Wǒ men yào tòu guò xiàn xiàng kàn zhēn xìng.
We need to look at the true nature through appearances.
真性，。
Tā bāng zhù bié rén wán quán shì chū yú zhēn xìng, bù tú huí bào.
He helps others entirely out of his true nature, without expecting anything in return.
真性。
Zhè zhǒng liáo fǎ duì zhēn xìng gāo xuè yā yǒu xiǎn zhù xiào guǒ.
This treatment has a significant effect on genuine hypertension.

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.

'真' true and '性' nature combine to mean genuine character.

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

貝貝bèicowrie; shell

Sound part声符shēngfú

𠂈

𠂈𠂈真zhēn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

真 pairs 貝 (cowrie shell, used for the meaning) with 𠂈, which gave the sound and originally drew a headlong fall.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

忄生性

Meaning part形符xíngfú

忄Written in full as心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

生

生shēng性xìng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

性 is built from 忄 (the heart) and 生 (a sound clue). The heart part connects the word to a person's inner nature or quality.

Appears in

Abstract Concepts

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