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逊色 (xùn sè) — inferior, not as good (often used in negative constructions like 毫不逊色)

Definition

逊色 means 'inferior, not as good,' used almost only in negative constructions like 毫不逊色 ('in no way inferior'). It is more formal and written than 差, and focuses specifically on a comparative shortfall in quality rather than a general weakness.

inferiornot as good (often used in negative constructions like 毫不逊色)

Examples

  • 逊色。
    Tā de biǎo yǎn yǔ zhuān yè yǎn yuán xiāng bǐ háo bú xùn sè.
    His performance is in no way inferior compared to that of professional actors.
  • ，逊色。
    Zhè ge fāng àn suī rán jiǎn dān, dàn bìng bù bǐ nà ge fù zá de xùn sè.
    Although this plan is simple, it is not inferior to that complicated one.
  • 逊色。
    Tā de cái huá zài tuán duì zhōng háo bú xùn sè yú rèn hé rén.
    Her talent is in no way inferior to anyone in the team.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

逊xùnfall short
色sècolor

Falling short in color (逊 + 色) suggests being inferior.

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 遜; 逊 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòto walk
Sound part声符shēngfú
孫
孫sūn遜xùn
Same sound today

The traditional form 遜 pairs 辵 (to walk) with 孫, a part used for the sound. The simplified 逊 is a later shorthand, so its visible parts are not the historical parts.

Open 逊 →

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

  • 爪爪zhuǎclaw; hand
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

色 pairs 爪 (a hand) with 卩 (a kneeling person), showing a hand pressing down on the kneeling person.

Open 色 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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