HSK · Level 22
135 words
Chinese word
内在
Pronunciation
Pinyinnèi zài
Meaning
- adjectiveinner
Example
幸福感常常内在于小事之中。xìng fú gǎn cháng cháng nèi zài yú xiǎo shì zhī zhōng
A sense of happiness often lies in small things.
More examples
艺术作品的内在价值需要细细体会。yì shù zuò pǐn de nèi zài jià zhí xū yào xì xì tǐ huì
You need to take time to appreciate the intrinsic value of a work of art.
Core concept
A quality or state that belongs within something or forms part of its nature, rather than appearing only on the surface.
Common phrases
内在联系nèi zài lián xì
inner connection
内在矛盾nèi zài máo dùn
inner contradiction
内在价值nèi zài jià zhí
intrinsic value
Similar words
固有gù yǒu: Naturally present in something as one of its essential qualities.
潜在qián zài: Present in a hidden form with the possibility of appearing or becoming active later.
Definition in Chinese
存在于事物或主体内部或本质之中，指某种性质、特征或状态不是外显的而是内在的。cún zài yú shì wù huò zhú tǐ nèi bù huò běn zhì zhī zhōng zhǐ móu zhǒng xìng zhì tè zhēng huò zhuàng tài bú shì wài xiǎn de ér shì nèi zài de
Word origin
内 (nèi, "inside") + 在 (zài, "exist") combine to express something that exists within a person or thing.
Usage tips
- In everyday conversation, this adjective often sounds formal or abstract, so it appears more naturally in reflective, academic, or written statements than in casual descriptions of a physical location.
Other meanings
- intrinsicadjective
- inherentadjective
Opposites
- 外在wài zàiexternaladjective
Related words
- 内在性nèi zài xìngintrinsic naturenoun
- 内在化nèi zài huàinternalizeverb