质变 (zhì biàn) — (noun, philosophy) qualitative change; a fundamental change in nature

Definition

A philosophical term for 'qualitative change' — a fundamental shift in the nature of something (e.g. water becoming steam). Contrast with 量变, which is gradual quantitative change that leads up to it.

noun
(noun, philosophy) qualitative changea fundamental change in nature

Examples

  • 质变。
    Shì wù de fā zhǎn shì cóng liàng biàn dào zhì biàn de guò chéng.
    The development of things is a process from quantitative change to qualitative change.
  • ，质变。
    Wēn dù dá dào yí dìng diǎn shí, shuǐ huì fā shēng zhì biàn biàn chéng zhēng qì.
    When the temperature reaches a certain point, water undergoes a qualitative change and turns into steam.
  • ，质变。
    Gǎi gé dào le zuì hòu jiē duàn, miàn lín de shì tǐ zhì de zhì biàn.
    The reform has reached its final stage, facing a qualitative change in the system.

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.

质zhìnature
变biànchange

质 (nature) + 变 (change) -> a fundamental change in nature.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 質; 质 is its simplified writing.

  • 斦斦yín
  • 貝貝bèi

The traditional form 質 is made up of 貝 and 斦; this describes 質, not the simplified 质.

Open 质 →

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 變; 变 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
䜌
䜌䜌變biàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 變 uses 䜌 as a sound part and 攴 as a meaning part.

Open 变 →

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