真谛 (zhēn dì) — the true essence, the fundamental meaning (of s… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Refers to the deepest, truest essence or principle of a subject (life, art, happiness). Stronger and more abstract than 真相 ('the truth' about a fact or event).

noun

the true essencethe fundamental meaning (of something)

Examples

真谛，。
Rén shēng de zhēn dì shì shén me, měi gè rén dōu yǒu zì jǐ de lǐ jiě.
What the true essence of life is — everyone has their own understanding.
真谛。
Zhè běn shū jiē shì le xìng fú de zhēn dì.
This book reveals the true meaning of happiness.
，真谛。
Jīng guò duō nián tàn suǒ, tā zhōng yú lǐng wù le yì shù de zhēn dì.
After years of exploration, he finally grasped the true essence of art.

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 and 谛 combine as genuine truth, giving the real underlying meaning.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 諦; 谛 is its simplified writing.

言帝諦

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

帝

帝dì諦dì

Same sound today

The traditional form 諦 uses 言 to do with words and 帝 to give the sound; the simplified 谛 is a later shorthand.

Appears in

Abstract Concepts

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