history; origin; cause
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 7 examplesnoun
a period of time from the beginning until now; history
formalEmphasizes the duration or existence of something over time, often used in formal or written contexts.
Liǎng两
guó国
zhī之
jiān间
de的
yǒu友
yì谊
yóu由
lái来
yǐ已
jiǔ久
。
The friendship between the two countries has a long history.
Zhè这
ge个
chuán传
tǒng统
kě可
yǐ以
zhuī追
sù溯
dào到
jǐ几
bǎi百
nián年
qián前
，
qí其
yóu由
lái来
fēi非
cháng常
jiǔ久
yuǎn远
。
This tradition can be traced back hundreds of years; its origins are very ancient.
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Tā他
men们
zhī之
jiān间
de的
wù误
huì会
yóu由
lái来
yǐ已
jiǔ久
，
bú不
shì是
yī一
tiān天
liǎng两
tiān天
néng能
jiě解
jué决
de的
。
The misunderstanding between them has existed for a long time and cannot be resolved in a day or two.
noun
the origin of something; the cause; the source
Focuses on the root cause or the point from which something originates.
Jǐng警
fāng方
zhèng正
zài在
diào调
chá查
zhè这
cì次
huǒ火
zāi灾
de的
yóu由
lái来
。
The police are investigating the cause of this fire.
Wǒ我
men们
bì必
xū须
chá查
qīng清
zhè这
ge个
yáo谣
yán言
de的
yóu由
lái来
。
We must find out the source of this rumor.
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Tā他
jiě解
shì释
le了
zhè这
zhǒng种
xí习
sú俗
de的
yóu由
lái来
。
He explained the origin of this custom.
Chéng成
yǔ语
dōu都
yǒu有
qí其
tè特
dìng定
de的
lì历
shǐ史
yóu由
lái来
。
Every idiom has its specific historical origin.