戚

慼/慽
qī
尗 + 戊

Definitions

qī (noun) relative; family member
qī (noun) grief; sorrow
qī (noun) battle-axe

Etymology

Pictograph of a battle axe having spiked teeth on its blade.

About

戚 originated as a pictograph of a battle axe whose blade featured spiked teeth. This weapon, likely ceremonial or military, is reflected in the character's composition: 戊 (a weapon) combined with 尗 (shū), which acts as a phonetic and visual marker. In its earliest usage, 戚 denoted this axe. Through phonetic borrowing, it later came to mean relatives by marriage, and eventually acquired the sense of sorrow or grief. Though the character's structure still preserves the image of the axe, its modern meanings are entirely products of loan usage and semantic shift, without any direct link to the original pictograph.

Example Sentences Hide

我的亲戚来自北京。

Wǒ de qīnqi lái zì Běijīng.

My relative comes from Beijing.

我们欢迎亲戚来访。

Wǒmen huānyíng qīnqi lái fǎng.

We welcome relatives to visit.

她有很多亲戚朋友。

Tā yǒu hěnduō qīnqi péngyou.

She has many relatives and friends.

亲戚们聚在一起吃饭。

Qīnqi men jù zài yīqǐ chīfàn.

The relatives gathered together to eat.

他对亲戚非常友好。

Tā duì qīnqi fēicháng yǒuhǎo.

He is very friendly to his relatives.

亲戚之间的关系很重要。

Qīnqi zhī jiān de guānxi hěn zhòngyào.

The relationships between relatives are very important.

他因失去亲人而哀戚。

Tā yīn shīqù qīnrén ér āiqī.

He is grief-stricken due to the loss of a loved one.

他的脸上露出戚容。

Tā de liǎn shàng lù chū qīróng.

His face revealed a sorrowful expression.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

蹙 嘁 槭 顣 䠞 慼 慽 鏚

Component: 尗

叔

Component: 戊

成 茂 戊 戍 戌 蒇 蕆

Example Words

亲戚 哀戚 外戚 悲戚 戚戚 戚友 戚继光 走亲戚