About
悬 is the simplified form of the traditional character 懸, a phono-semantic compound. Its traditional structure places the semantic component 心 (heart/mind) at the bottom, linking it to emotions, while the top component 縣 (xiàn) serves as both a phonetic element and a semantic clue. 縣 originally depicted a head hanging from a tree, conveying the idea of suspension. The addition of the heart radical thus created a vivid image: a "hanging heart" representing psychological tension, such as anxiety or suspense. Over time, 懸 came to denote both the physical act of hanging objects and the abstract sense of unresolved matters or unease. In the simplified form 悬, the complex top 縣 is replaced by the simpler phonetic component 县, while the heart radical 心 is retained at the bottom, preserving the character's structural logic and its core meanings of suspension and anxiety.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
问题还没有解决。
那盏灯悬挂在天花板上。
这部电影充满了悬念。
悬崖边上长着一棵松树。
他的命运仍然悬而未决。
这个案件至今仍是一桩悬案。
他的观点缺乏证据，显得很悬乎。
两国之间的谈判目前处于悬置状态。