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穷尽 (qióng jìn) — end, limit

Definition

A formal noun for the final limit or end of something — the point beyond which it cannot continue. Used in writing rather than everyday speech; paired with 没有 to mean 'no end / inexhaustible'.

noun
endlimit

Examples

  • 穷尽。
    Zhī shi de tàn suǒ shì méi yǒu qióng jìn de.
    The exploration of knowledge has no end.
  • 穷尽。
    Tā de nài xīn yǐ jīng dá dào le qióng jìn.
    His patience has reached its limit.
  • 穷尽。
    Zhè ge wèn tí de dá àn sì hū méi yǒu qióng jìn.
    The answer to this question seems to have no end.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

穷qióngexhaust/end
尽jìnexhaust/end

'穷' and '尽' both mean exhaust or reach an end, so together they express exhaustion or limit.

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 窮; 穷 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
穴穴xuécave; nest; confinement
Sound part声符shēngfú
躬
躬gōng窮qióng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 窮, 穴 (cave; nest; confinement) gives the sense and 躬 gives the sound; this is about 窮, not the simplified 穷.

Open 穷 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 盡; 尽 is its simplified writing.

  • 聿聿yùhand holding a brush
  • 灬灬huǒbristles
  • 皿皿mǐndish

The traditional form 盡 shows 聿 (hand holding a brush) and 灬 (bristles) over 皿 (dish), cleaning a dish until it is empty. The simplified 尽 is a shorthand, not those historical parts.

Open 尽 →
Appears in
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