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软化 (ruǎn huà) — to soften (physically or metaphorically); to persuade or influence through gentle, indirect methods

Definition

A -化 verb meaning 'to soften': either physically (hardening → pliable) or, metaphorically, to make an attitude, stance, or opposition gentler through indirect methods. Often collocates with 态度, 立场, 对立情绪.

verb
to soften (physically or metaphorically)to persuade or influence through gentle, indirect methods

Examples

  • 软化。
    Jiā rè kě yǐ shǐ zhè zhǒng jīn shǔ ruǎn huà.
    Heating can soften this type of metal.
  • 软化，。
    Tā de tài dù jiàn jiàn ruǎn huà le, kāi shǐ yuàn yì tuǒ xié.
    His attitude gradually softened and he became willing to compromise.
  • 软化。
    Zhèng fǔ cǎi qǔ le yí xì liè cuò shī lái ruǎn huà mín zhòng de bù mǎn qíng xù.
    The government adopted a series of measures to soften public discontent.

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.

软ruǎnsoft
化huàbecome

软 gives the sense of softness, and 化 indicates becoming or making something soft.

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 軟; 软 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
耎
耎ruǎn軟ruǎn
Same sound today

The traditional form 軟 pairs 車 (carriage) with 耎 as a sound part; 耎 depicted a man under rain, and simplified 软 uses a later right side instead of 耎.

Open 软 →

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

化 shows two person figures, one upright and one upside down, to give the idea of reversal or change.

Open 化 →
Appears in
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