短浅 (duǎn qiǎn) — (of perspective, knowledge, or insight) shallow…

Definition

A negative adjective for shallow, narrow thinking — used for limited perspective, insight, or knowledge (e.g. 目光短浅, 见识短浅).

verb

(of perspective, knowledge, or insight) shallownarrowlimited

，。
Tā mù guāng duǎn qiǎn, zhī kàn yǎn qián lì yì.
He is short-sighted and only sees immediate gains.
短浅。
Jiàn shi duǎn qiǎn de rén hěn nán lǐ jiě fù zá de wèn tí.
People with limited experience find it hard to understand complex issues.
短浅。
Bú yào yīn wèi yì shí de chéng gōng jiù jué de zì jǐ bù duǎn qiǎn.
Don't think you're not narrow-minded just because of temporary success.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

短 and 浅 both suggest limited depth or breadth, so together mean narrow and shallow.

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.

矢豆短

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

豆

豆dòu短duǎn

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

短 is built from 矢 and 豆. 豆 is used for its sound, while 矢 is the component linked to the meaning.

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 淺; 浅 is its simplified writing.

氵戔淺

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐ

Sound part声符shēngfú

戔

戔jiān淺qiǎn

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 淺 pairs 氵 (water) with 戔 to give the sound; 浅 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original parts.