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迹象 (jì xiàng) — sign, indication, indicator

Definition

迹象 points to subtle evidence of something happening or about to happen (a recovery, a change). Unlike 标志 (an established symbol or marker) and 痕迹 (a physical trace left behind), 迹象 is more about inferred, often tentative signals.

noun
signindicationindicator

Examples

  • 迹象。
    Yǒu jì xiàng biǎo míng jīng jì zhèng zài huǎn màn fù sū.
    There are signs that the economy is slowly recovering.
  • 迹象。
    Mù qián méi yǒu jì xiàng xiǎn shì tā huì cí zhí.
    Currently there are no indications that he will resign.
  • 迹象。
    Zhè shì bìng qíng hǎo zhuǎn de jì xiàng.
    This is a sign that the condition is improving.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

迹jìtrace
象xiàngappearance

“迹” (trace) and “象” (appearance) both point to observable signs.

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chuòmove
Sound part声符shēngfú
朿
朿cì迹jì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

迹 pairs 辶, a movement part, with 亦, a sound part; an older form used 朿.

Open 迹 →

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 →
Appears in
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