忒

tè, tēi

弋 + 心

Definitions

tè to err; to change

tēi (dialect) too; very; also pr. [tuī]

Etymology phono-semantic

heart

Semantic: 心 Phonetic: 弋

About

忒 is a phono-semantic compound combining 心 (heart) below, hinting at mind or intentions, and 弋 above, which historically supplied the pronunciation. Its original sense was a mistake or deviation from proper conduct, especially in behavior or thought. In some northern Chinese dialects, it is used colloquially as an adverb meaning "too" or "excessively" (much like 太), describing an extreme degree. The heart radical emphasizes the psychological nature of error, while the character's regional adverbial role is a phonetic borrowing.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

今天天气忒好了。

Jīntiān tiānqì tēi hǎo le.

Today's weather is too good.

他跑得忒快了。

Tā pǎo de tēi kuài le.

He runs too fast.

这顿饭忒贵了。

Zhè dùn fàn tēi guì le.

This meal is too expensive.

你的衣服忒漂亮了。

Nǐ de yīfú tēi piàoliang le.

Your clothes are too beautiful.

这部电影忒无聊了。

Zhè bù diànyǐng tēi wúliáo le.

This movie is too boring.

他说话忒不客气了。

Tā shuōhuà tēi bù kèqì le.

He speaks too impolitely.

这个地方忒安静了，有点吓人。

Zhège dìfāng tēi ānjìng le, yǒudiǎn xiàrén.

This place is too quiet, it's a bit scary.

她忒专注于工作，以至于忘了吃饭。

Tā tēi zhuānzhù yú gōngzuò, yǐzhìyú wàngle chīfàn.

She is too focused on work, so much that she forgot to eat.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 弋

Component: 心