悸

jì

季 + 忄

Definitions

jì to palpitate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 季 represents the sound.

Semantic: 忄 Phonetic: 季

About

The character 悸 (jì) is a phonosemantic compound structured with the semantic heart radical 忄 on the left and the phonetic component 季 (jì) on the right. 忄, the vertical form of 心 (xīn), represents emotions, psychological states, and internal bodily sensations, while 季, which means "season" or "youngest sibling", provides the pronunciation. The character denotes a feeling of fear, trepidation, or a sudden rapid heartbeat brought on by anxiety or shock. Its original meaning is the involuntary physical palpitation caused by emotional distress, and this medical and psychological connotation is central to its use. In compound words, 心悸 (xīnjì) directly refers to heart palpitations, and 悸动 (jìdòng) describes a sudden throbbing or emotional stirring, showing how the literal physical sensation translates into expressions of intense emotional apprehension.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我突然感到心悸。

Wǒ tūrán gǎndào xīnjì.

I suddenly felt palpitations.

他的心在悸动。

Tā de xīn zài jìdòng.

His heart is throbbing.

听到消息后她心悸不已。

Tīng dào xiāoxi hòu tā xīnjì bùyǐ.

After hearing the news, she had incessant palpitations.

事故让他心有余悸。

Shìgù ràng tā xīn yǒu yújì.

The accident left him with lingering fear.

每当想起那件事，我就心悸难平。

Měi dāng xiǎngqǐ nà jiàn shì, wǒ jiù xīnjì nán píng.

Whenever I think of that matter, I feel palpitations that are hard to calm.

在黑暗的森林里，他感到一阵莫名的悸动。

Zài hēi'àn de sēnlín lǐ, tā gǎndào yī zhèn mòmíng de jìdòng.

In the dark forest, he felt a strange throbbing.

她的心跳因恐惧而剧烈悸动着。

Tā de xīntiào yīn kǒngjù ér jùliè jìdòngzhe.

Her heartbeat was throbbing violently due to fear.

尽管危险已过，但那种心悸的感觉仍萦绕在心头。

Jǐnguǎn wēixiǎn yǐ guò, dàn nà zhǒng xīnjì de gǎnjué réng yíngrào zài xīntóu.

Although the danger has passed, the feeling of palpitations still lingers in my heart.

Related Characters

Component: 季

Component: 忄

悸