Definitions

fèn (adjective) angry; indignant; resentful

Etymology phono-semantic

heart

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "愤", with its traditional form "憤", structurally integrates the heart radical 忄 with the phonetic component "贲", a construction that inherently suggests an upheaval of inner feeling. Etymologically, this alignment originally conveyed a sense of accumulated emotional energy or mental agitation, a broader concept evident in early literary contexts where it described a state of being profoundly stirred or congested with passion. Through historical usage, its meaning gradually condensed from that generalized fervor into a more specific denotation of anger or moral indignation, reflecting a linguistic refinement where the character's application became primarily associated with resentful reaction and wrathful response, thereby narrowing its earlier semantic field while retaining its core link to emotional disturbance.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他很怒。

Tā hěn fènnù.

He is very angry.

这种行为令人慨。

Zhè zhǒng xíngwéi lìng rén fènkǎi.

This kind of behavior is outrageous.

不平地走了。

Tā fènfènbùpíng de zǒule.

He left, feeling resentful and aggrieved.

他的演讲充满了悲

Tā de yǎnjiǎng chōngmǎnle bēifèn.

His speech was full of grief and indignation.

然退出了那个组织。

Tā fènrán tuìchūle nàgè zǔzhī.

She indignantly withdrew from that organization.

这种不公平的待遇激起了公

Zhè zhǒng bù gōngpíng de dàiyù jīqǐle gōngfèn.

This unfair treatment stirred up public indignation.

他怀着满腔懑写下了这篇文章。

Tā huáizhe mǎnqiāng fènmèn xiěxiàle zhè piān wénzhāng.

He wrote this article filled with resentment and discontent.

公众对这种不公正现象感到无比慨。

Gōngzhòng duì zhè zhǒng bù gōngzhèng xiànxiàng gǎndào wúbǐ fènkǎi.

The public feels immense indignation towards this unjust phenomenon.