首肯 (shǒu kěn) — to nod in approval; to approve (formal)

Definition

A formal written verb meaning 'to nod in approval / to give one's consent', typically used by a person in authority (a boss, board, official). Colloquial approval is more naturally 同意 or 答应.

verb
to nod in approvalto approve (formal)

Examples

  • 首肯。
    Lǎo bǎn shǒu kěn le zhè ge fāng àn.
    The boss approved this plan.
  • 首肯。
    Dǒng shì huì zuì zhōng shǒu kěn le tā de tí yì.
    The board finally approved his proposal.
  • 首肯。
    Lǎo shī wēi xiào zhe shǒu kěn le xué shēng de huí dá.
    The teacher smiled and nodded approval to the student's answer.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

首shǒuhead
肯kěnto consent

首 is the head, and 肯 is to consent; the head consenting gives the idea of nodding approval.

Characters in this word

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

The shape comes from an old drawing of an animal's head, showing a long mouth and horns; the version with hair became 首.

Open 首 →

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

肯 is described as showing 冎 (bone) and 肉 (meat), meaning meat attached to the bone.

Open 肯 →

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