返祖现象 (fǎn zǔ xiàn xiàng) — (biology) atavism; (figurative) throwback, regression

Definition

A formal scientific term for 'atavism' — when an organism shows traits of a distant ancestor. Used figuratively to mean a 'throwback' in behavior or ideas.

noun
(biology) atavism(figurative) throwbackregression

Examples

  • ，返祖现象。
    Zhè zhī xiǎo māo cháng chū le tiáo wén, shì yì zhǒng fǎn zǔ xiàn xiàng.
    This kitten has developed stripes — it's a kind of atavism.
  • 返祖现象。
    Zhè zhǒng fǎn zǔ xiàn xiàng zài rén lèi shēn shàng hěn shǎo jiàn.
    This kind of atavism is rarely seen in humans.
  • 返祖现象。
    Tā de jí duān guān diǎn bèi rèn wéi shì yì zhǒng sī xiǎng shàng de fǎn zǔ xiàn xiàng.
    His extreme views are seen as a kind of ideological throwback.

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.

返祖return to ancestors
返fǎnreturn祖zǔancestor
动宾Verb + object
现象phenomenon
现xiànappear象xiàngimage
偏正Modifier + head

返祖 (returning to ancestors) plus 现象 (phenomenon) gives the phenomenon of atavism.

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
辶Written in full as辵chuòmovement
Sound part声符shēngfú
反
反fǎn返fǎn
Same sound today

返 pairs 辶 (movement) with 反 (sound, with the sense of returning); the whole character originally meant coming back along the path one came from.

Open 返 →

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shì
Sound part声符shēngfú
且
且qiě祖zǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

祖 was made by adding 示 to 且, and 且 gives the sound.

Open 祖 →

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 現; 现 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
見
見jiàn現
Same sound today

The traditional form 現 pairs 玉 (jade) with 見 as a sound part; the simplified 现 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 现 →

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

象 is drawn as an elephant, with a long trunk, a head, and a big body.

Open 象 →

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