About
The character "恻", denoting sorrow or compassion, originates from its traditional form "惻", structured with the heart radical "心" alongside the phonetic component "則", a combination that inherently links it to emotional states. Over time, its meaning has remained anchored in the expression of empathetic distress or pity, often appearing in classical philosophical texts to convey a virtuous sensitivity to the suffering of others. In contemporary usage, it is most commonly found in compounds such as "恻隐", where it continues to signify compassionate concern. The simplified form "恻" adapts this structure by incorporating the condensed heart radical "忄" and the streamlined phonetic "则", yet it retains the character's fundamental etymological connection to inner feelings and its historical semantic consistency.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他的恻隐之心令人感动。
她心中充满对他的恻隐。
这故事唤起人们的恻隐之情。
听闻她的遭遇，我不禁恻然。
悲天悯人者，常怀恻隐之心。
旁观者的冷漠，毫无恻隐之意。
这份报告揭示了社会的苦难，读来凄恻感人。
他虽外表严厉，却深藏着对弱者的恻然之心。