忑

tè

下 + 心

Definitions

tè used in 忐忑[tǎn tè]

Etymology

A weight under 下 the heart 心

About

忑 is the structural counterpart to 忐. It is an ideographic compound: 下 (below, suggesting a weight) is placed above 心 (heart). This arrangement produces the image of a weight pressing down on the heart, evoking the sinking sensation associated with apprehension and worry. Together with 忐, it creates a visual cycle of a heart moving up and down, capturing the rhythmic instability of a person in suspense. The meaning is restricted to these psychological states of agitation, relying entirely on the vertical orientation of the heart to convey the fluctuations of human emotion.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我心里很忐忑。

Wǒ xīnlǐ hěn tǎntè.

I feel very uneasy in my heart.

考试前他很忐忑。

Kǎoshì qián tā hěn tǎntè.

Before the exam, he is very uneasy.

听到消息后她忐忑不已。

Tīngdào xiāoxī hòu tā tǎntè bùyǐ.

After hearing the news, she is extremely uneasy.

他忐忑地等待结果。

Tā tǎntè de děngdài jiéguǒ.

He uneasily waits for the result.

面对未知的未来，我心中充满忐忑。

Miànduì wèizhī de wèilái, wǒ xīnzhōng chōngmǎn tǎntè.

Facing the unknown future, my heart is full of unease.

她既期待又忐忑地参加了面试。

Tā jì qídài yòu tǎntè de cānjiāle miànshì.

She participated in the interview with both anticipation and unease.

在做出重要决定时，他的心情十分忐忑。

Zài zuòchū zhòngyào juédìng shí, tā de xīnqíng shífēn tǎntè.

When making an important decision, his mood is very uneasy.

尽管他试图保持冷静，但内心的忐忑却难以掩饰。

Jǐnguǎn tā shìtú bǎochí lěngjìng, dàn nèixīn de tǎntè què nányǐ yǎnshì.

Although he tries to stay calm, the unease in his heart is hard to conceal.

Related Characters

Component: 下

Component: 心

忑