憎

zēng

忄 + 曾

Definitions

zēng to detest

Etymology

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

Semantic: 忄 Phonetic: 曾

About

憎 (zēng) is a phono-semantic compound built from two components: the heart radical 忄 (xīn) on the left, which signals that the meaning belongs to the realm of emotions or psychological states, and the phonetic element 曾 (zēng) on the right, which supplies the pronunciation. The character expresses a strong negative feeling, specifically intense hatred, detestation, or deep aversion toward someone or something. Unlike characters that denote mild dislike or temporary annoyance, 憎 conveys a profound and severe level of animosity. This intensity strictly defines its usage, and it frequently combines with other characters meaning anger or dislike to form compound words that describe severe interpersonal conflict or intense personal prejudice.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他憎恨这种不公。

Tā zènghèn zhè zhǒng bù gōng.

He hates this kind of injustice.

我憎恶说谎的人。

Wǒ zēngwù shuōhuǎng de rén.

I despise people who tell lies.

他脸上露出了憎恶的表情。

Tā liǎn shang lù chū le zēngwù de biǎoqíng.

An expression of disgust appeared on his face.

过度的自私会引起他人的憎厌。

Guòdù de zìsī huì yǐnqǐ tārén de zēngyàn.

Excessive selfishness will arouse disgust in others.

她将内心的憎恨化为了奋斗的动力。

Tā jiāng nèixīn de zènghèn huà wéi le fèndòu de dònglì.

She transformed the hatred in her heart into motivation for struggle.

这种毫无根据的憎恨情绪必须被消除。

Zhè zhǒng háo wú gēnjù de zènghèn qíngxù bìxū bèi xiāochú.

This kind of baseless hatred must be eliminated.

历史教导我们，种族间的憎恨会带来灾难。

Lìshǐ jiàodǎo wǒmen, zhǒngzú jiān de zènghèn huì dàilái zāinàn.

History teaches us that racial hatred leads to disaster.

他试图用理性和宽容来化解对方心中的憎恶。

Tā shìtú yòng lǐxìng hé kuānróng lái huàjiě duìfāng xīn zhōng de zēngwù.

He tried to use reason and tolerance to dissolve the disgust in the other person's heart.

Related Characters

Component: 忄

Component: 曾

憎