Definitions
(adjective)
sweet; pleasant
(adjective)
willing
Etymology
Pictograph of something sweet inside the mouth (口).
About
The character "甘" finds its origin in a pictographic representation of a mouth containing something sweet, directly indicating its initial meaning related to a pleasant taste. Its structural composition, which features a horizontal stroke nestled within a curved shape reminiscent of a mouth, has persisted through history, consistently symbolizing the act of tasting something agreeable. From this concrete foundation, the character's meaning gradually expanded to encompass abstract notions of willingness and contentment, as evidenced in classical and modern compounds where it conveys a sense of voluntary acceptance or satisfaction. This shift from describing a physical sensation to denoting psychological dispositions illustrates how the character adapted within the language, preserving its core association with positivity while integrating into expressions of moral and emotional states.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这水果很甘甜。
我喜欢甘甜的泉水。
他甘心帮助别人。
她甘愿付出所有时间。
他甘于平凡的生活。
甘蔗汁的味道非常甘美。
只有甘心努力，才能获得成功。
他甘于清贫，却从不放弃理想。