阐释 (chǎn shì) — to explain in detail; to expound, to elucidate

Definition

阐释 (chǎnshì) is a formal, written verb for explaining a theory, text, or abstract meaning in depth. It's more scholarly than 解释 and parallels 阐述; 诠释 leans more toward interpreting meaning, while 阐释 focuses on laying out and clarifying ideas.

verb
to explain in detailto expoundto elucidate

Examples

  • 阐释。
    Zhè wèi zhé xué jiā chǎn shì le shēng mìng de yì yì.
    This philosopher explained the meaning of life in detail.
  • 阐释。
    Wǒ men xū yào jìn yí bù chǎn shì zhè ge xiàn xiàng bèi hòu de yuán yīn.
    We need to further elucidate the reasons behind this phenomenon.
  • 阐释。
    Tā zài lùn wén zhōng duì zhè ge lǐ lùn jìn xíng le shēn rù de chǎn shì.
    In his paper, he engaged in a deep exposition of this theory.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

阐chǎnunfold
释shìexplain

The unfolding in 阐 and the explaining in 释 together mean detailed exposition.

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 闡; 阐 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
門門méndouble door
Sound part声符shēngfú
單
單dān闡chǎn
Same sound today

The traditional form 闡 combines 門, a double door, with 單, which supplies its sound.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 釋; 释 is its simplified writing.

  • 釆釆biànto distinguish
  • 睪睪yìto release; to see

The traditional form 釋 puts 釆 (to distinguish) beside 睪, a part that gives the sound and means “to release; to see”; the simplified 释 is a later shortened shape.

Open 释 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Communication & Speech

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