泣

qì

氵 + 立

Definitions

qì (verb) to cry; to weep; to sob

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 立 represents the sound.

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 立

About

泣 is a phono-semantic compound combining the water radical 氵, which evokes tears, with the phonetic component 立 that indicates the pronunciation. The character means to weep quietly, focusing on the silent shedding of tears rather than loud vocal distress. It is typically used for scenes of silent grief, hidden sorrow, or subdued deep emotion.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她在房间里哭泣。

Tā zài fángjiān lǐ kūqì.

She is crying in the room.

孩子哭泣着要妈妈。

Háizi kūqìzhe yào māma.

The child is crying for mom.

他抽泣着走出教室。

Tā chōuqìzhe zǒu chū jiàoshì.

He walked out of the classroom sobbing.

悲伤电影让她泣下。

Bēishāng diànyǐng ràng tā qì xià.

The sad movie made her weep.

她泣诉自己的不幸。

Tā qìsù zìjǐ de bùxìng.

She sobbed out her misfortune.

他独自在雨中泣立。

Tā dúzì zài yǔ zhōng qì lì.

He stood weeping alone in the rain.

听到批评，他泣诉委屈。

Tīng dào pīpíng, tā qìsù wěiqū.

Hearing the criticism, he sobbed out his grievances.

在寂静的夜里，他独自泣吟。

Zài jìjìng de yè lǐ, tā dúzì qì yín.

In the quiet night, he wept and murmured alone.

Related Characters

Component: 氵

Component: 立

泣