Definitions

zhì stubborn; perverse; aggressive

Etymology phono-semantic

heart

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character is a phono-semantic compound formed by the heart radical (a vertical variant of ) on the left, which places it in the domain of emotions and mental attitudes, and the phonetic element (zhī) on the right, indicating the pronunciation. It denotes negative emotions such as intense jealousy, stubbornness, and malicious envy. Frequently found in classical philosophical and moral writings, it describes aggressive, resentful, or uncompromising personality traits, underscoring the traditional focus on identifying and condemning harmful psychological states.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern