Definitions

huái (verb) to think of; to miss
huái (noun) bosom; heart
huái (verb) to be pregnant with

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

怀, the simplified version of , is a phonosemantic compound. The traditional character combines the heart radical on the left, which indicates a meaning associated with the chest and emotions, and the phonetic on the right. Its original sense of 'bosom' metaphorically expanded to include harboring thoughts, cherishing memories, yearning for someone, and even pregnancy. In the modern simplified form, takes the place of the more complex .

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

怀念我的家乡。

Wǒ huáiniàn wǒ de jiāxiāng.

I miss my hometown.

怀疑他的诚实。

Tā huáiyí tā de chéngshí.

She doubts his honesty.

妈妈怀抱着婴儿。

Māmā huáibào zhe yīng'ér.

Mother is holding the baby in her arms.

姐姐怀孕了很高兴。

Jiějie huáiyùn le hěn gāoxìng.

My sister is pregnant and very happy.

老人常常怀旧。

Lǎorén chángcháng huáijiù.

Old people often feel nostalgic.

老师关怀每一个学生。

Lǎoshī guānhuái měi yīgè xuéshēng.

The teacher cares for every student.

他胸怀宽广,值得尊敬。

Tā xiōnghuái kuānguǎng, zhídé zūnjìng.

He has a broad mind and is worthy of respect.

怀着激动的心情参加比赛。

Wǒ huái zhe jīdòng de xīnqíng cānjiā bǐsài.

I participate in the competition with excited feelings.