禁欲主义 (jìn yù zhǔ yì) — asceticism (doctrine of self-denial and renunciation of worldly pleasures)

Definition

An -ism noun for the philosophical or religious doctrine of renouncing worldly pleasures and desires. In HSK contexts it functions as the abstract ideology rather than personal practice.

noun
asceticism (doctrine of self-denial and renunciation of worldly pleasures)

Examples

  • 禁欲主义。
    Fó jiào de jìn yù zhǔ yì qiáng diào kè zhì yù wàng.
    Buddhist asceticism emphasizes restraining desires.
  • 禁欲主义。
    Gǔ dài yǒu xiē zhé xué jiā tí chàng jìn yù zhǔ yì.
    Some ancient philosophers advocated asceticism.
  • 禁欲主义。
    jìn yù zhǔ yì Bìng bú shì wán quán fǒu dìng wù zhì shēng huó.
    Asceticism does not completely negate material life.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

禁欲abstain from desires
禁jìnprohibit欲yùdesire
动宾Verb + object
主义-ism
主zhǔ义yì

禁欲 (renouncing desires) + 主义 (doctrine) forms a belief in self-denial and worldly renunciation.

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
示示shìaltar
Sound part声符shēngfú
林
林lín禁jìn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

禁 has 林 above 示, an altar. The 林 part gives the sound, and the altar part connects the character to taboo or restricted matters.

Open 禁 →

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
欠欠qiàn
Sound part声符shēngfú
谷
谷gǔ欲yù
Same sound today

欲 is made of 谷, which supplies the sound, and 欠, which relates to the meaning.

Open 欲 →

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

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

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 義; 义 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
我
我wǒ義yì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 義 has 我 giving the sound and 羊 meaning good or auspicious; the simplified 义 is a later abbreviation.

Open 义 →

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