积极性 (jī jí xìng) — enthusiasm; initiative; zeal

Definition

A noun meaning 'enthusiasm / initiative / zeal' — the active, willing engagement a person brings to a task or group. Unlike a one-time effort, it stresses an ongoing positive attitude. Pairs with 发挥, 提高, 调动.

noun
enthusiasminitiativezeal

Examples

  • 积极性，。
    Tā de gōng zuò jī jí xìng hěn gāo, zǒng shì dì yī gè wán chéng rèn wu.
    His work enthusiasm is very high; he always finishes tasks first.
  • 积极性。
    Gōng sī gǔ lì yuán gōng fā huī chuàng zào jī jí xìng.
    The company encourages employees to use their creative initiative.
  • 积极性。
    Zhè cì huó dòng tí gāo le dà jiā de cān yù jī jí xìng.
    This event increased everyone's enthusiasm for participation.

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.

积极active
积jīaccumulate极jíutmost
补充Verb + complement
性xìngquality

积极 describes an active, positive attitude, and 性 names the quality of being so.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 積; 积 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hé
Sound part声符shēngfú
責
責zé積jī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 積 pairs 禾 (grain) with 責, which gives the sound; the simplified 积 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 积 →

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
木木mùtree, wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
及
及jí极jí
Same sound today

极 pairs 木 (tree, wood) with 及, which provides the sound.

Open 极 →

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
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.

Open 性 →

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