桀

jié

木 + 舛

Definitions

jié (emperor of Xia dynasty); cruel

Etymology

Depicts two feet (舛) on top of a tree (木). Based on the original meaning, "to be elevated", now written as 傑. The current meaning "cruel" is a phoentic loan.

Semantic: 木

About

桀 combines 舛 (two feet in opposition) above 木 (tree). Its original meaning, "to be elevated" or "to stand out", is now written 傑. The dominant meaning "cruel" arose as a phonetic loan from the name of the tyrannical King Jie, the last ruler of the Xia dynasty, whose infamy cemented the character's association with brutal oppression. In classical texts, however, 桀 still occasionally denotes someone of towering, extraordinary ability, preserving the earlier sense.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他性格十分桀骜。

Tā xìnggé shífēn jié'ào.

His personality is very unruly.

那个年轻人显得桀骜不驯。

Nàgè niánqīng rén xiǎnde jié'ào bù xùn.

That young man appears arrogant and indomitable.

历史上，夏桀是一个暴君。

Lìshǐ shàng, Xià Jié shì yí gè bàojūn.

Historically, King Jie of Xia was a tyrant.

他总是一副桀骜的样子，很难接近。

Tā zǒngshì yí fù jié'ào de yàngzi, hěn nán jiējìn.

He always has an unruly demeanor, making it hard to get close to him.

这篇文章批判了桀纣的暴政。

Zhè piān wénzhāng pīpàn le Jié Zhòu de bàozhèng.

This essay criticizes the tyrannical rules of Jie and Zhou.

他的眼神中透着一股桀骜之气。

Tā de yǎnshén zhōng tòu zhe yì gǔ jié'ào zhī qì.

His eyes reveal a sense of defiance.

艺术家往往带有桀骜不群的个性。

Yìshùjiā wǎngwǎng dàiyǒu jié'ào bù qún de gèxìng.

Artists often possess a personality that is unruly and stands apart from the crowd.

这种桀骜的精神或许是其创新的源泉。

Zhè zhǒng jié'ào de jīngshén huòxǔ shì qí chuàngxīn de yuánquán.

This kind of indomitable spirit might be the source of his innovation.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 木

Component: 舛

桀