Definitions

careful; to prevent

Etymology phono-semantic

compare

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

Composed of 比 and 必, 毖 signifies psychological vigilance and preemptive caution. Etymologically, it conveys meticulous care and guarded prudence to prevent future misfortunes. This character frequently appears in classical admonitions, historical texts, and traditional idioms, advising one to learn from past failures and maintain strict conduct to avoid repeating disastrous outcomes. Historically, 毖 has remained confined to formal or literary contexts, functioning as a specialized term for severe caution rather than everyday vocabulary.

Etymology Hide

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