Taxonomy of meanings for 智:  

  • 智 zhì (OC: tes MC: ʈɯiɛ) 知義切 去 廣韻:【知也又姓晉有智伯知義切三 】
    • WISE
      • n[adN]nonreferentialthe wise, the competent; those who know
      • vtoNgradedregard as wise
      • vtoNmiddle voicebe regarded as wise
      • n[adN]subject=indefinitean intelligent or competent person
      • vibe wise (of persons or actions)
      • vtoNputative.reflex.自consider (oneself) as wise
      • nabpsychwisdom; intellectual prowess. BUDDH: perfect insight, wisdom skr. prajñā
      • n|vadNof wisdom/wise 智士,智謀
      • nabgradedsometimes: degree of wisdom 愚人之智
      • nabnegativewisdom (as something to be rejected because insufficient)
      • nab.post-V{NUM}kinds of wisdom; parts of relevant knowledge
      • v[adN]the wiseCH
      • nabgeneralcommon senseCH
      • vadN=智 wiseCH
      • nab(post-N)the wisdom of the contextually determinate NCH
      • viappear vibe deemed to vi; be generally taken to be vi,CH
      • in practical intellectual tasks> INTELLIGENT
        • vibe intellectually competent; intellectually excellent
        • nab[.post-N]disposition, N=humanread zhì: intellect; intellectual competence, professional competence; intelligence, intellectual capacity
        • vadNintellectually competent; intellectually excellent; intellectual
        • visubj=nonhumanbe intelligent or clever
        • vipsychbe properly or normally intelligent
        • vichangebecome more clever, become more intelligent
        • vtoNputative.reflex.自consider (oneself) as intelligent
        • vtoNcausativecause (oneself) to be intelligent
        • n[adN]subjectthe intelligent (pervasively difficult to distinguish from the wise)
        • viactact with skill
        • nab(.post-N)organone's intelligence; one's understanding; one's cognitive capacitiesCH
        • vadNN=nonhumanclever; highly elaborated;DS
        • vt+V(0)be intelligent enough toCH
        • vigradedmost intelligentLZ
        • nab[.post-N]:adVin one's intelligence, with regard to one's intelligenceLZ
        • nabgraded capacity intelligence DS
        • vtoNgradedbe more intelligent than NCH
        • v[adN1.]adN2belonging to an intellectualy competent personDS
      • immorally> CRAFTY
        • nabdispositionnegative: craftiness; leaned cleverness; intellectual prowess; shrewdness
        • v[adN]nonreferentialthe shrewd and clever
        • vadNshrewd, clever
        • vinegatively be wily, shrewd, clever
        • NPnonreferentialthe clever and the shrewd
        • nab(.post-N)the craftiness of the contextually determinate NCH
  • =知> UNDERSTAND
    • nabpsychwise understanding
    • nabmental stateunderstnanding things, the understanding of somethingCH
  • =知> KNOW
    • nabwhat is known; knowledgeCH
    • nabpsychologicalknowingCH

Additional information about 智

說文解字:

    Criteria
  • CHINESE LANGUAGE

    1. guānhuà 官話 "Mandarin" is obsolete, and its traditional antonym was xiāngyǔ 鄉語 "local speech".

    From Míng Dynasty times, this was a current word for the common vernacular language used by administrative staff of any kind throughout China.

    DC: 明何良俊《四友齋叢說 ‧ 史十一》: " 雅宜不喜作鄉語,每發口必官話。 "

    2. báihuà 白話 "plain speech, vernacular" (as opposed to wényán 文言 )

    This is a modern word referring to an easily accessible written version of the Chinese language. In classical contexts or early vernacular contexts the expression always seems to refer to "empty talk" rather than the vernacular language.

    3. guóyǔ 國語 "national language" (ant. wàiyǔ 外語 ) (pre-1950ies and Taiwan)

    A word that continues to be in increasing common use even in Mainland China today, and which is standard in places like Malaysia or Singapore, as well as in Taiwan.

    4. zhōngguóyǔ 中國語 "language of China" (ant. wàiguóyǔ 外國語 )

    Current Japanese way of writing the Japanese word for the Chinese language, but the expression has a long history in China, the first attested use being in Yáng Xióng's Model Sayings of the first century BC.

    5. pǔtōnghuà 普通話 "common language" (Mainland China) (ant. dìfāngyǔ 地方語, fāngyán 方言 "dialect (not in the ancient meaning)")

    This is a very common modern expression which corresponds to Greek koinē, and the word is always used in counterdistinction to (often mutually incomprehensible) dialects. The word has a rather political flair.

    6. Hànyǔ 漢語 "language of the Hàn people" (should include all dialects, but is often used otherwise)

    This is the most current word for the Chinese language as opposed to other 族語 "national languages". The word is very current in the Buddhist Tripitaka, but it is also attested elsewhere 庾信《奉和法筵應詔》: " 佛影胡人記,經文漢語翻。 ". The term is also attested in 世說新語.

    7. Zhōngguóhuà 中國話 "Chinese speech" (includes all dialects)

    This word is always used in counterdistinction to foreign languages. It has become current in international contexts in nineteenth century novels.

    8. Zhōngwén 中文 "Chinese (typically written) language" (ant. wàiwén 外文, often icludes speech: 會說中文 )

    This word is already attested in the medieval 搜神記, where it refers to the written language. In Modern Standard Chinese this is a very common way of referring to Chinese as opposed to foreign languages, and as a subject in school curricula.

    9. Huáyǔ 華語 "Chinese talk" (used mainly in Singapore, Hong Kong etc.)

    This word has a long history in Buddhist texts, and it is also already attested in 劉知幾《史通 ‧ 言語》: "... 必諱彼夷音,變成華語.

    10. Hànyīn 漢音 "Han-Chinese sounds" refers to the Chinese language in a poetic style. Sanskrit is currently referred to as 梵音.

    HD sub verbo 漢文: 2. 漢語;漢字。南朝梁僧祐《梵漢譯經音義同异記》: " 或善梵義而不了漢音,或明漢文而不曉梵意。 "

    HD: 2. 指漢語。南朝宋朱廣之《咨顧道士<夷夏論>》: " 想茲漢音,流入彼國。 "

    老子漢人也。

    新修科分六學僧傳 R133_p0714a04(02)║

    胡蕃國也。土地不同。則言音亦異。當其化胡成佛之際。為作漢音耶。作蕃音耶。苟以漢音。則蕃國有所不解。以蕃音。則此經之至。宜須翻譯。

    11. Hàn yán 漢言 "Hàn language, language of the Hàn Dynasty> Chinese" (ant. 胡言 or 胡語 ) is a historico-ethnographic term.

    This remained a very common way of referring to the Chinese language long after the Hàn Dynasty, as is clear from the Buddhist Tripitaka. (424 occurrences in CBETA.)

    T25n1512_p0835b29(05)║

    胡言般若波羅蜜。

    漢言智慧彼岸也

    T48n2023_p1095c25(00)║

    志曰。

    佛者。 Buddha

    漢言覺也。 is "the enlightened" in Hàn language"

    將以覺悟群生也。 He will bring enlightenment to the sentient beings.

    12. Wényán 文言 "literary Chinese" (ant. báihuà 白話 "plain vernacular") today refers to a modernised version of traditional classical Chinese, as used for example in letters. But in the Buddhist Tripitaka, for example, the phrase regularly refers to ornate Chinese, ornate formulations. Neither traditionally nor in modern times is 文言 used in counterdistinction to foreign languages: the contrast is with other varieties of Chinese.

    DC: 4. 別於白話的古漢語書面語。蔡元培《在國語傳習所的演說》: " 文言上還有例句,如 ' 爾無我詐,我無爾虞 ' 等。 "

    13. wényánwén 文言文 "literary Chinese writing" (ant. báihuàwén 白話文 ) refers to classical Chinese as it continues to be used in the introductions to books and in formal letter-writing.

    This is a twentieth century word, as far as I can see.

    14. báihuà-wén 白話文 "plain talk writing" (ant. wényánwén 文言文 ) is a term with a strong stylistic nuance.

    This is a twentieth century word.

    15. tōngyòngyǔ 通用語 "general use language".

    This is a twentieth century neologism designed to replace 普通話. The term has never achieved broad use.

    16. dàzhòngyǔ 大眾語 "mass language" is obsolete today.

    This is a politicised ideological concept stressing the universal use and popularity of the Chinese language as advocated by language politicians. It is a twentieth century political neologism.

    17. guówén 國文 "state writing" refers in a formal way to written Chinese.

    This is a twentieth century term mainly used in connection with educational politics.

    HD: 許地山《東野先生》: “ 這不是國文教科書底一課麼? ”

    18. Hàn wén 漢文 (obsolete, current in Buddhist texts) "Hàn (typically written) language"

    HD: 2. 漢語;漢字。南朝梁僧祐《梵漢譯經音義同异記》: " 或善梵義而不了漢音,或明漢文而不曉梵意。 "

    19. Zhōngguó wénzì 中國文字 "the Chinese (written) language"

    T49n2036_p0477a06(03)║ 

    中國文字未通。蓋不可知也。

    R110_p0542b01(05)║

    偈語原必有韻譯以中國文字。則無可協。

    R110_p0542b09(00)║

    流入東土後。以中國文字經為尊稱。故亦稱經。

    20. Huá yán 華言 is an obsolete traditional term for Chinese that comes over 1200 times in Taisho Tripitaka.

    R150_p0541a 13(00)║

    剌麻者。乃西域之尊稱。

    譯華言為無上二字。

    R149_p0695a 12(00)║

    梵語阿修羅。亦云阿素洛。

    又云阿須倫。

    華言非天。

    R149_p0718b05(03)║

    梵語袈裟華言壞色衣。

    21. dōngtǔ Huáxiàyán 東土華夏言 "Chinese language in the eastern regions" is an ad hoc periphrastic expression which one might insist was never lexicalised, but it is perhaps worth recording just as well, if only in order to

    R059_p0119b04(00)║

    梵語。西天梵國語也。

    華言。東土華夏言也。

    譯者翻也。

    謂翻梵天之語。轉成漢地之言也。

    22. Hàn'ér yányǔ 漢兒言語 "Hàn language" is a term that is current in Korean textbooks of colloquial Chinese, like the famous 老乞大 : “ 你是高麗人,卻怎麼漢兒言語說的好。 ” See also the article in 太田辰夫《漢語史通考 · 關於漢兒言語》

    23. Jìn wén 晉文 (obsolete, current in Buddhist texts) "Jìn (typically written) language" is fairly rare, but clear examples are easily found:

    T50n2059_p0326c12(02)║

    還歸中夏。

    自燉煌至長安。

    沿路傳譯寫為晉文。

    24. Jìn yán 晉言 (obsolete, current in Buddhist texts) "Language of the Jìn" is common indeed, but many examples can be read technically as "in Jìn this translates as". Not however in this example:

    於龜茲國金華祠。

    T14n0434_p0105ā6(01)║ 

    演出此經。譯梵音為晉言。

    T33n1693_p0001ā7(01)║

    斯經似安世高譯。為晉言也。 (punctuation probably wrong!)

    25. Jìn yǔ 晉語 (obsolete, current in Buddhist texts) "Speech of the Jìn"

    T50n2059_p0329ā2(00)║

    手執梵文口宣晉語。

    T55n2145_p0072b24(03)║

    先誦本文。

    然後乃譯為晉語。

    26. Jìn yīn 晉音 "Jìn Dynasty speech"

    T14n0434_p0105á1(00)║

    沙門慧海者。通龜茲語。

    善解晉音。

    林復命使譯龜茲語為晉音。

    T50n2060_p0634á6(02)║

    外國語云阿耨菩提。

    晉音翻之無上大道。

    27. Qín yán 秦言 "Qín language> Chinese" is the standard way of providing Chinese translations for Sanskrit words in the Buddhist Tripitaka. (No less than 1132 examples in CBETA, but mostly formulaic, as in the following examples.)

    答曰。摩訶秦言大。 "maha is "big"in Chinese"

    T25n1509_p0383á2(03)║

    今問摩訶薩義。摩訶者秦言大。

    28. Qín yǔ 秦語 "Speech of the Qín > Chinese"

    In the Buddhist Tripitaka, this is a very formal term for Chinese, not very common. (Only 22 occurrences in CBETA)

    T26n1543_p0771b02(08)║

    梵本十五千七十二首盧 ( 四十八萬二千五百四言 ) 。

    秦語十九萬五千二百五十言。

    T51n2068_p0053c09(05)║

    什自手執胡經。

    口譯秦語曲從方言而趣不乖本。

    T51n2068_p0054á9(07)║

    什自執梵本口譯秦語。

    T55n2145_p0072b07(28)║

    胡本十五千七十二首盧 ( 四十八萬二千三百四言 ) 秦語十九萬五千二百五十言

    T55n2145_p0073c09(02)║

    胡本一萬一千七百五十二首盧長五字也。

    凡三十七萬六千六十四言也。

    秦語為十六五千九百七十五字。

    29. Táng wén 唐文 (obsolete, current in Buddhist texts) "Táng (typically written) language"

    This is the standard way of referring to the written Chinese language in Buddhist texts of the Táng dynasty.

    R130_p0664b06(02)║

    以華言唐文刻釋氏經典

    T39n1797_p0803b21(10)║

    不得梵文依唐文得意亦同。

    T48n2025_p1160a24(08)║

    唐文多對偶當盡翻譯。

    T50n2060_p0614c17(05)║

    有天竺三藏大齎梵本擬譯唐文。

    R024_p0177a16(02)║ 

    語精梵言。

    雖亦兼美唐文。

    乍來恐未盡善。

    30. Táng yán 唐言 (obsolete, current in Buddhist texts) "Language of the Táng".

    1523 occurrences in CBETA. Occasionally, one wonders whether this does refer to Táng time Chinese whereas Hànyīn 漢音 does not:

    T20n1177Ap0724c02(01)║

    遂將得舊翻譯唐言漢音經本在寺。

    31. Táng yǔ 唐語 (obsolete, current in Buddhist texts) "Speech of the Táng"

    A fairly rare way of referring to the Chinese language in Táng Buddhist texts. (Only 18 occurrences in CBETA)

    R014_p0563a14(02)║

    印度罽賓皆未詳唐語。

    R036_p0985a16(18)║    

    又多兩重怗文當知初依梵文後釋唐語

    T30n1579_p0283c07(05)║

    三藏法師玄奘。

    敬執梵文譯為唐語。

    32. Táng yīn 唐音 "Táng speech" is a regular expression for Táng Dynasty Chinese in the Buddhist Tripitaka.

    R036_p0584b13600)

    梵語本是兩名唐音無以甄別

    R066_p0717b08(01)║

    此偈乃是梵語訛言。

    傳者將為唐音正字。

    33. Tánghuà 唐話 "Táng talk" is a current Cantonese term for Chinese, and the famous intellectual 許地山 writes: 他說的雖是唐話,但是語格和腔調全是不對的。 But in this phrase, I am instructed by my teacher and friend Jiǎng Shàoyú, Táng refers not to the dynasty but to 唐山.

    34. Dà Táng yǔ 大唐語 "Speech of the Great Táng Dynasty" is rarely attested, but the word does exist:

    R150_p1055b17(00)║

    若僧雖是新羅人。却會大唐語。 Monk Ruò was a person from Xīnluó, but he spoke the language of the Great Táng Dynasty.

    35. Hàn 漢 is an abbreviation for Hànyǔ 漢語 currently used in Buddhist translation theory, but the word is not in itself a term for the Chinese language outside such technical contexts.

    T21n1293_p0378c15(02)║ 

    翻梵為漢 Translate the Sanskrit into Chinese.

    R068_p0353b05(05)║

    梵是天竺之言。

    漢是此土之語。

    R133_p0623b09(07)║

    序以條列梵漢旨義。

    R005_p0007b03(02)║

    翻譯之家自有規准。 The specialists in translation have their own standards.

    若名梵漢共有。 If a term exists both in Sanskrit and in Chinese

    則敵對而翻。 than they just match the terms up in translation.

    36. Táng 唐 "language of the Táng Dynsasty.

    梵唐

    T54n2133Ap1196b12(02)║ 

    一曰義淨撰梵語千字文。

    或名梵唐千字文。

    T55n2176_p1118a01(00)║ 

    梵唐對譯阿彌陀經一卷 ( 仁 )

    This is the same as 梵唐語:

    T55n2176_p1118b20(00)║ 

    梵唐語對註譯大佛頂真言一卷

    T55n2176_p1119c19(18)║

    梵唐對譯法花二十八品

    T55n2176_p1120a05(00)║ 

    梵唐對譯金剛般若經二卷

    T55n2176_p1131a06(00)║ 

    梵唐文字一卷

    37. Jìn 晉 "the language of the Jìn Dynasty.

    The term is rarely used to refer directly to the language, unlike the common Táng 唐. But examples do exist:

    T55n2157_p0795c08(08)║

    既學兼梵晉故譯義精允。

    38. nèidìhuà 內地話 refers to the language spoken on the Mainland, and the word is mostly used on Taiwan. This term represents an outsider's view on the Chinese language. (2.9 million hits in Google! This important word was brought to my attention by Jens Østergaard Petersen.)

    39. shénzhōu yǔ 神州語 "the language of our divine land" is quaint, nationalistically sentimental, and a rare way of referring to the Chinese language.

    beijing.kijiji.cn/á1221463.html:

    心中一暖,想到他居然會說神州語,正要說些甚麼,但一開口,嘴部動作牽動喉嚨,...

    40. zúyǔ 族語 "the national language (of the Chinese) is a borderline case because the term refers to national languages in general, and only by extension to Chinese in particular.

    42. Hàn dì zhī yán 漢地之言 "language of the Ha4n territory" is a marginal periphrastic expression which one should probably not regard as a lexicalised item. One could study such periphrastic expressions separately from the lexicalised vocabulary.

    R059_p0119b06(06)║

    謂翻梵天之語。轉成漢地之言也。

    [43. jīngpiànzi 京片子 "Chinese as spoken in Peking" is a borderline case because it does refer to Peking speech, but not insofar as it is the standard for the whole of China. Colloquial examples of this sort could be multiplied...]

  • CRAFTY

    1. The most general word for craftiness as a negative quality is zhì 智, although very confusingly, this word can also refer to positive wisdom as a virtue.

    2. Jiǎo 狡 and huá 猾 (ant. dūn 敦 "obtuse" and perhaps dǔ 篤 "trusty but inept").

    3. Qiǎo 巧 (ant. zhuó 拙 "inept") is very common and emphasises the element of skill involved.

  • STUPID

    1. The dominant word is yú 愚 (ant. zhì 智 "clever; wise"), and the word refers to moral as well as intellectual obtuseness as well as practical ineptitude.

    2. Zhuó 拙 (ant. jié 捷 "nimble") refers to practical ineptitude.

    3. Chī 癡 (ant. yǐ4ng 穎 "very clever") refers to moronic clinical intellectual ineptitude.

    4. Lǔ 魯 and dùn 鈍 (ant. huì 慧 "clever") refer to boorish and rustic bluntness of sensibility.

    5. Bì 蔽 and měng 蒙 (all ant. cōng 聰 "clever"), refer to an appearance of stupidity due to limited access to information, a state of stupidity that is typically construed as remediable.

    6. Mèi 昧 and àn 暗 (ant. míng 明 "clear-minded") refer primarily to benightedness of mind and lack of an enlightened attitude, particularly on the part of a ruler or a person who should know better.

    7. Wán 頑 and lòu 陋 (both ant.* bó 博 "broadly civilised") add the nuance of stubbornness to that of stupidity as such.

    NB: Bèn 笨, āi 呆, shǎ3 傻, and chūn 蠢 are post-Han words for stupidity and silliness.

  • REASON

    1. The closest one can come in classical Chinese to the notion of reason seems to be the general word zhì 智 "intelligence; wisdom", which is sometimes used to refer to the capacity for knowledge and analysis as such. FIND GOOD EXAMPLES! CONSIDER SUCH DISTINCTIONS AS THAT IN GERMAN BETWEEN VERSTAND AND VERNUNFT. SEE WHEN, IN CHINESE HISTORY, THE NOTION OF REASON VERSUS INTELLIGENCE BECAME FOCUSSED.

  • HERO

    1. The current general term for a person of almost superhuman strength or talent is xióng 雄 (ant. yōng 庸 "ordinary person").

    2. Jié 傑 / 桀 refers to an outstanding hero.

    3. Yīng 英 focusses on the hero as an illustrious figure.

    4. Jùn 俊 focus on the hero as a remarkable figure towering above ordinary man.

    5. Háo 豪 focusses on the hero as possessed of very great strength.

    6. Shèng 聖 (ant. fán 凡 "ordinary person") focusses on the hero as possessed of very great superior creativity and wisdom, and the word is mostly expanded to shèng rén 聖人.

    7. Xián 賢 (ant. bù xiào 不肖 "the incompetent") focusses on the hero as possessed of very unusually high moral, political, and practical talents.

    WENZI, shangli: 智過百人謂之杰,十人謂之豪,千人謂之俊,萬人謂之英。

    HUAINAN, taizu: 故智過萬人者謂之英,千人者謂之俊,百人者謂之豪,十人者謂之杰。

  • WISE

    1. The current general word for wisdom is zhì 智 (ant. yú 愚 "devoid of wisdom") and this may refer to any acquired superior intellectual ability beyond the realm of memorisation or mundane knowledge, the quality which enables one to móu 謀 give good advice..

    2. Shèng 聖 (ant. yōng 庸 "mediocre") refers to supreme sagehood and perfection of character.

    3. Míng 明 (ant. bì 蔽 "beclouded, mentally obfuscated") refers to more cerebral clarity of moral insight and superb perceptiveness.

    4. Cōng 聰 (ant. dùn 鈍 "numb and insensitive") refers to sharp and incisive intelligence, especially in the analyses of what one has learnt and heard.

    5. Huì 慧 can refer to natural profound wisdom and depth of insight, but the word often comes close to referring to natural cunning.

    6. Yǐng 穎 is a rare and archaising word referring to quite extraordinary superb intellectual ability.

    7. Ruì 睿 refers to general astuteness and thoughtfulness.

  • VIRTUE

    1. The current general term for salient features and principles of charismatic moral potency, integrity and generosity is dé 德, when used as a term of ethical evalutation.

    2. Other general terms for subjectively construed general moral commendation include měi 美 "point of moral distinction" (ant. è 惡 "point of moral decrepitude"), and occasionally gāo 高 "elevated points, elevated spirit" (ant. jiàn 賤 "point of vulgar decrepitude"). NB that shàn 善 "excellent" is not used as a general term of positive moral appreciation in pre-Buddhist texts.

    3. The most current dé 德 "virtues" recognised in pre-Buddhist China are rén 仁 "kind-heartedness", yì 義 "rectitude", lǐ 禮 "propriety", zhì 智 "wisdom", and xìn 信 "good faith".

    4. Further important virtues are xiào 孝 "filial piety", zhōng 忠 "loyal diligence", tì 悌 / 弟 "brotherly affection", lián 廉 "impeccable probity", jié 節 "moderation", and perhaps yǒng 勇 "the courage of one's moral convictions". ( 說苑 : 百行 (xìng) 孝為先 )

    5. Zhōng yōng 中庸 "the mean in action" may be mentioned as a a central Confucian virtue, jiān ài 兼愛 "unIversal love" as a Mohist virtue, wú wéi 無為 "unobtrusive action" as a non-moralistic Taoist virtue.

    Word relations
  • Inconsist: (WISE)民/PEOPLE The dominant current general word for the people is mín 民 (ant. jūn 君 "ruler"), and this term refers to the people particularly insofar as they are ruled by a ruler or belong to a state.
  • Result: (WISE)慮/THINK Lǜ 慮 refers to thoughtful long-term strategic (often personal) planning.
  • Ant: (INTELLIGENT)愚/STUPID The dominant word is yú 愚 (ant. zhì 智 "clever; wise"), and the word refers to intellectual obtuseness as well as practical ineptitude.
  • Ant: (WISE)愚/STUPID The dominant word is yú 愚 (ant. zhì 智 "clever; wise"), and the word refers to intellectual obtuseness as well as practical ineptitude.
  • Ant: (INTELLIGENT)拙/STUPID Zhuó 拙 (ant. jié 捷 "nimble") refers to practical ineptitude.
  • Object: (WISE)竭/EXHAUST Jié 竭 (ant. yíng 盈 "leave plenty of something") typically refers to the using up of what one has in one, or what one owns.
  • Epithet: (INTELLIGENT)明/CLEAR The most general standard and clearly dominant word for things that are easily accessible to the intellect and to the senses is míng 明 (ant. hūn 昏 "unclear").
  • Contrast: (WISE)慧 / 惠/WISE Huì 慧 refers to profound wisdom and depth of insight.
  • Contrast: (INTELLIGENT)明/INTELLIGENT Míng 明 (ant. àn 闇 "obfuscated in one's mind"), taking its analogy from sharpness of vision, typically refers to clarity of insight at all levels.
  • Contrast: (CRAFTY)強 / 強/STRONG The current general word for the temporary state of strength, physical or political, are qiáng 強 (ant. ruò 弱 "weak").
  • Contrast: (INTELLIGENT)力/STRONG The typically nominal or adverbial lì 力 commonly refers to a permanent property of strength..
  • Contrast: (INTELLIGENT)知/UNDERSTAND The standard current and word for understanding something and knowing how to do something is zhī 知 (ant. mèi 昧 "not have the foggiest idea")
  • Contrast: (WISE)聖/WISE Shèng 聖 (ant. yōng 庸 "mediocre") refers to supreme sagehood and perfection of character.
  • Contrast: (INTELLIGENT)巧/CRAFTY Qiǎo 巧 (ant. zhuó 拙 "inept") is very common and emphasises the element of skill involved.
  • Assoc: (WISE)仁/BENEVOLENCE Rén 仁 (ant. cán 殘 "cruel" and perhaps ant.* rěn 忍 "be callous, unfeeling") which refers to kind-heartedness and deep human sensibility as a constitutive feature of man as a moral being, is the standard word since Confucius. [ETHICAL], [HIGH-DEGREE]
  • Assoc: (CRAFTY)姦/WICKED Jiān 姦 (ant. liáng 良 "of the good sort, decent") refers to sheer human depravity and moral incompetence with no supernatural or sinister overtones.
  • Assoc: (WISE)慧 / 惠/WISE Huì 慧 refers to profound wisdom and depth of insight.
  • Assoc: (INTELLIGENT)才 / 材/TALENT The standard word for an unusual promising ability to perform important future tasks of any kind is cái 才/材, and the talents referred to by this word do not need to be of a "higher" kind.
  • Assoc: (WISE)能/ABLE The commonest word is néng 能 "have an inherent capacity for, have the personal ability to". CURRENT, ENDOGENIC, GRADED, INHERENT, LASTING
  • Assoc: (INTELLIGENT)識/INTELLIGENT
  • Assoc: (CRAFTY)巧/CRAFTY Qiǎo 巧 (ant. zhuó 拙 "inept") is very common and emphasises the element of skill involved.
  • Assoc: (WISE)慮/PLAN Lǜ 慮 refers to a careful personal planning effort based on serious reflection.
  • Assoc: (WISE)睿/WISE Ruì 睿 refers to general astuteness and thoughtfulness.
  • Synon: (CRAFTY)巧/CRAFTY Qiǎo 巧 (ant. zhuó 拙 "inept") is very common and emphasises the element of skill involved.
  • Synon: (INTELLIGENT)巧/CRAFTY Qiǎo 巧 (ant. zhuó 拙 "inept") is very common and emphasises the element of skill involved.
  • Oppos: (WISE)心/MIND The general word for the mental sphere of man is xīn 心 "HEART> mind" (ant. xíng 形 "physical shape, body", tǐ 體 "limbs, body").