Definitions

xiá (bound form) (literary) to take liberties with sb or sth; to treat frivolously

Etymology phono-semantic

dog

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

As a phono-semantic compound, 狎 combines the semantic radical 犭 (dog/animal) with the phonetic component 甲. Its original meaning referred to dogs playing together with familiar, uninhibited ease. This sense later extended metaphorically to human interactions, where it describes excessive intimacy or inappropriate familiarity, often implying disrespect or a failure to observe proper boundaries.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern