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门槛 (mén kǎn) — doorstep, threshold (of a door); (figurative) threshold, barrier (e.g., entry requirement for an industry or condition); (figurative) knack, trick (especially for getting a good deal)

Definition

门槛 is literally a doorstep but commonly used figuratively for an entry 'threshold/barrier' (行业门槛高) or a 'knack/trick' for getting a deal — broader than 技巧, which names a specific skill.

noun
doorstepthreshold (of a door)(figurative) thresholdbarrier (e.g., entry requirement for an industry or condition)(figurative) knacktrick (especially for getting a good deal)
Measure word · 道

Examples

  • 门槛。
    Tā zhàn zài mén kǎn shàng děng péng you.
    He stood on the doorstep waiting for his friend.
  • 门槛，。
    Zhè ge háng yè de mén kǎn hěn gāo, xū yào bó shì xué wèi.
    The threshold for this industry is very high; a doctoral degree is required.
  • 门槛，。
    Tā mǎi dōng xī hěn dǒng mén kǎn, zǒng néng zhǎo dào pián yi de.
    He knows the tricks when buying things and can always find bargains.

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.

门méndoor
槛kǎnthreshold

'门' door and '槛' threshold combine into the sill of a doorway.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 門; 门 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 門 pictures a gate as two door shapes side by side; the simplified 门 is a later shorthand.

Open 门 →

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 檻; 槛 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
監
監jiān檻jiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 檻 pairs 木 (wood) with 監, which gives it its sound; the simplified 槛 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 槛 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Home & Housing

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