Definitions

angry, showing emotion on one's face

Etymology phono-semantic

color

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is a phono-semantic compound combining the radical (color) on the right, indicating visual appearance or complexion, with the phonetic on the left. The character signifies a sudden change in facial color, a countenance flushed with anger or displeasure, often appearing in the classical compound 艴然. Its use is purely classical and literary, depicting emotional outbursts on the face; it never became colloquial or took on unrelated meanings.

Etymology Hide

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