Definitions

disrespectful; (literary) ditch

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "渎" evolved from its traditional form "瀆", which structurally combines the water radical with a phonetic component, initially conveying the concrete meaning of a ditch or water channel. Over time, its semantic range expanded beyond physical geography to acquire abstract connotations of disrespect or profanation, likely through metaphorical associations with the degradation or muddying of something pure. The simplified version preserves the water radical while modifying the phonetic element, yet the core architectural principle remains intact, demonstrating how the character's functional application shifted from denoting earthly features to expressing conceptual irreverence.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 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

Example Sentences Hide

不要亵神灵。

Bù yào xièdú shénlíng.

Do not blaspheme the gods.

职是严重的错误。

Dúzhí shì yánzhòng de cuòwù.

Dereliction of duty is a serious mistake.

他因职被开除了。

Tā yīn dúzhí bèi kāichú le.

He was fired for dereliction of duty.

这种行为是对法律的亵

Zhè zhǒng xíngwéi shì duì fǎlǜ de xièdú.

This behavior is a profanation of the law.

官员职会损害公众利益。

Guānyuán dúzhí huì sǔnhài gōngzhòng lìyì.

Officials' dereliction of duty will harm public interests.

圣地是不可饶恕的罪过。

Xièdú shèngdì shì bùkě ráoshù de zuìguò.

Profaning holy sites is an unforgivable sin.

他的言论亵了传统文化的尊严。

Tā de yánlùn xièdúle chuántǒng wénhuà de zūnyán.

His remarks profaned the dignity of traditional culture.

对于职行为,必须依法严肃处理。

Duìyú dúzhí xíngwéi, bìxū yīfǎ yánsù chǔlǐ.

Regarding dereliction of duty, it must be dealt with seriously according to law.