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adjective HSK 5
Traditional 激進
jī jìn
radical · extreme · aggressive

Meaning

激进 describes ideas, actions, or people that favor drastic change or hold extreme positions, often departing sharply from mainstream or traditional views. It carries a somewhat negative connotation in Chinese, suggesting impatience or excessive zeal for reform.

Usage

Commonly used in political, social, and ideological contexts to describe movements, reforms, or individuals pushing for fundamental change. Often contrasted with 保守 (conservative) or 温和 (moderate). Can describe both leftist and rightist extremes, though context determines the specific meaning.

Examples

  1. 01
    他的政治立场太激进了，很难被大众接受。
    Tā de zhèng zhì lì chǎng tài jī jìn le, hěn nán bèi dà zhòng jiē shòu.
    His political stance is too radical and difficult for the public to accept.
  2. 02
    这些激进的改革措施引起了很大的争议。
    Zhè xiē jī jìn de gǎi gé cuò shī yǐn qǐ le hěn dà de zhēng yì.
    These radical reform measures have sparked considerable controversy.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 激进分子
    jī jìn fèn zǐ
    radical (person), extremist
  • 激进主义
    jī jìn zhǔ yì
    radicalism
  • 激进派
    jī jìn pài
    radical faction
  • 激进思想
    jī jìn sī xiǎng
    radical ideas

Antonyms

Origin

The combination suggests 'intense advancement' or 'excited progress,' reflecting the aggressive push for change that characterizes radical movements.

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