Definitions

to palpitate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 悸, structured with the heart radical 忄 paired with the component 季, etymologically derives from early Chinese usage to describe a physical palpitation or trembling of the heart, often induced by fear. Its composition firmly anchors the meaning in cardiac sensation or emotion, while the right-hand element 季 primarily serves a phonetic function, guiding pronunciation rather than contributing distinct semantic content. Over the centuries, the core meaning of sudden, heart-centered agitation has remained stable, extending from literal descriptions of bodily fluttering to encompass metaphorical senses of nervous alarm or startled emotion, all without significant deviation from its original conceptual foundation.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我突然感到心

Wǒ tūrán gǎndào xīnjì.

I suddenly felt palpitations.

他的心在动。

Tā de xīn zài jìdòng.

His heart is throbbing.

听到消息后她心不已。

Tīng dào xiāoxi hòu tā xīnjì bùyǐ.

After hearing the news, she had incessant palpitations.

事故让他心有余

Shìgù ràng tā xīn yǒu yújì.

The accident left him with lingering fear.

每当想起那件事,我就心难平。

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.