造物 (zào wù) — Nature (as a creative force); the creator of al… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literary/philosophical term for 'Nature' personified as a creative force — the maker of all things. Not used for everyday nature (自然).

noun

Nature (as a creative force)the creator of all things

Examples

造物。
zào wù Chuàng zào le shì jiān wàn wù.
Nature created all things in the world.
造物。
Tā bù jīn gǎn tàn zào wù de shén qí.
He couldn't help but marvel at the wonder of nature.
，造物。
Zài gǔ rén yǎn zhōng, zào wù shì zhì gāo wú shàng de cún zài.
In the eyes of the ancients, nature was the supreme existence.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

物wùthings

造 (create) and 物 (things) combine to mean the power that makes all things.

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

辵辵chuòto walk

Sound part声符shēngfú

屮

屮chè造zào

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Its origin is unclear, but early forms of 造 include 辵 (to walk) and 口, with 屮 as a sound part, and mean go or arrive.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

牛勿物

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

勿

勿wù物wù

Same sound today

物 puts 牛 beside 勿: 牛 gives the meaning, and 勿 gives the sound.

Appears in

Religion & Belief

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