嗔

chēn

口 + 真

Definitions

chēn to be angry at; to be displeased and annoyed

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 真 represents the sound.

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 真

About

嗔 is a phono-semantic compound combining the mouth radical 口, which points to speech or expression, with the phonetic component 真. It commonly conveys anger, annoyance, or the act of scolding. In Buddhist texts, it took on the specialized meaning of klesha, the poison of anger and hatred, one of the three fundamental mental afflictions (alongside greed and ignorance) that obstruct enlightenment and perpetuate the cycle of suffering and rebirth.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

不要嗔怪别人。

Bùyào chēnguài biérén.

Don't blame others.

他有点嗔怒。

Tā yǒudiǎn chēnnù.

He is a little angry.

她嗔怪了我。

Tā chēnguàile wǒ.

She blamed me.

他常常嗔怪别人。

Tā chángcháng chēnguài biérén.

He often blames others.

因为迟到，他嗔怒了。

Yīnwèi chídào, tā chēnnùle.

Because he was late, he got angry.

她嗔怪我不够细心。

Tā chēnguài wǒ bùgòu xìxīn.

She blamed me for not being careful enough.

虽然他嗔怒，但很快平静了。

Suīrán tā chēnnù, dàn hěn kuài píngjìngle.

Although he was angry, he calmed down quickly.

每当她嗔怪时，我都会感到内疚。

Měi dāng tā chēnguài shí, wǒ dōu huì gǎndào nèijiù.

Whenever she blames me, I feel guilty.

Related Characters

Component: 口

Component: 真

嗔