概

槩

gài

既 + 木

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

gài (adjective) general; approximate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 既 represents the sound.

Semantic: 木 Phonetic: 既

About

概 is a phono-semantic compound that pairs the wood radical 木, indicating the semantic field, with the phonetic 既. Its earliest sense was a wooden tool used to level grain in a measuring vessel, scraping away the surplus to obtain a uniform, standard measure. This concrete process of striking a level and fixing a standard naturally broadened into abstract meanings: from the physical act came the ideas of generality, a broad outline, and approximation, and the character now commonly refers to a general overview or a probability.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个概念很简单。

Zhège gàiniàn hěn jiǎndān.

This concept is very simple.

我对这个地方大概了解。

Wǒ duì zhège dìfāng dàgài liǎojiě.

I have a general understanding of this place.

概况介绍到此结束。

Gàikuàng jièshào dào cǐ jiéshù.

The overview presentation ends here.

概率论是一门重要的学科。

Gàilǜ lùn shì yī mén zhòngyào de xuékē.

Probability theory is an important subject.

他的解释概括了所有要点。

Tā de jiěshì gàikuò le suǒyǒu yàodiǎn.

His explanation summarized all the main points.

这个价格是概不议价的。

Zhège jiàgé shì gàibù yìjià de.

This price is non-negotiable.

请概略说明你的计划。

Qǐng gàilüè shuōmíng nǐ de jìhuà.

Please give a brief outline of your plan.

从宏观角度概括社会发展趋势。

Cóng hóngguān jiǎodù gàikuò shèhuì fāzhǎn qūshì.

Summarize social development trends from a macro perspective.

Related Characters

Component: 既

Component: 木

概