惴

zhuì

忄 + 耑

Definitions

zhuì anxious; worried

Etymology

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

Semantic: 忄 Phonetic: 耑

About

惴 (zhuì) is a phonosemantic compound: the heart radical 忄 on the left indicates an emotional state, while the component 耑 (duān) on the right supplies the sound. The character denotes intense anxiety and fearful apprehension, usually about an impending event. Throughout classical and modern literature, it consistently describes this negative emotional state of dread and inner unease. In contemporary usage, it almost never appears alone, occurring almost exclusively in the idiom 惴惴不安 (feeling anxious and uneasy), which vividly depicts a person plagued by constant worry and fear, unable to find peace of mind.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他心中有些惴惴。

Tā xīn zhōng yǒu xiē zhuì zhuì.

He feels somewhat anxious in his heart.

她惴惴地等待结果。

Tā zhuì zhuì de děng dài jié guǒ.

She anxiously waits for the result.

孩子惴惴地看着母亲。

Háizi zhuì zhuì de kàn zhe mǔqīn.

The child looks at his mother anxiously.

他怀着惴恐的心情上台。

Tā huái zhe zhuì kǒng de xīn qíng shàng tái.

He goes on stage with a fearful mood.

在黑暗的森林里，他惴栗地前行。

Zài hēi'àn de sēnlín lǐ, tā zhuì lì de qián xíng.

In the dark forest, he proceeds trembling with fear.

面对未知的未来，她不禁惴惴起来。

Miàn duì wèi zhī de wèi lái, tā bù jīn zhuì zhuì qǐ lái.

Facing the unknown future, she can't help but become anxious.

听到那个消息后，他一直惴惴难以入眠。

Tīng dào nàgè xiāo xī hòu, tā yìzhí zhuì zhuì nán yǐ rù mián.

After hearing that news, he has been anxious and finds it hard to sleep.

尽管他表面上镇定自若，内心却惴惴不已，生怕露出破绽。

Jǐnguǎn tā biǎo miàn shàng zhèn dìng zì ruò, nèi xīn què zhuì zhuì bù yǐ, shēng pà lòu chū pò zhàn.

Although he appears calm on the surface, inside he is extremely anxious, afraid of revealing flaws.

Related Characters

Component: 忄

Component: 耑

惴