衅

釁

xìn

半 + 血

Definitions

xìn quarrel; dispute; a blood sacrifice (arch.)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 血 represents the meaning and 半 represents the sound. Simplified form of 釁.

Semantic: 血 Phonetic: 半

About

衅 is the simplified form of 釁. It is a phonosemantic compound: the component 血 (blood) gives the meaning, and 半 (half) indicates the pronunciation. The traditional character 釁 is structurally complex, combining 酉 (a wine vessel), 釆 (division or animal tracks), and a divided space, all suggesting a gap or flaw. In ancient China, it originally referred to the ritual of smearing sacrificial blood on ceremonial vessels or weapons to consecrate them. Over time, the meaning shifted to any flaw or gap, which came to imply an opening for conflict, and eventually the character became the standard term for a quarrel, dispute, or act of provocation.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

不要挑衅你的朋友。

Bùyào tiǎoxìn nǐ de péngyou.

Do not provoke your friends.

他们经常寻衅滋事。

Tāmen jīngcháng xúnxìn zīshì.

They often pick quarrels and cause trouble.

这次争吵的衅端很小。

Zhè cì zhēngchǎo de xìnduān hěn xiǎo.

The cause of this quarrel is very small.

他的挑衅行为引起了冲突。

Tā de tiǎoxìn xíngwéi yǐnqǐle chōngtū.

His provocative behavior caused a conflict.

避免衅端是维护和平的关键。

Bìmiǎn xìnduān shì wéihù hépíng de guānjiàn.

Avoiding causes of quarrels is key to maintaining peace.

国际社会谴责这种挑衅性的言论。

Guójì shèhuì qiǎnzé zhè zhǒng tiǎoxìn xìng de yánlùn.

The international community condemns such provocative remarks.

寻衅斗殴者将受到法律的严惩。

Xúnxìn dòu'ōu zhě jiāng shòudào fǎlǜ de yánchéng.

Those who pick quarrels and engage in fights will be severely punished by law.

通过对话解决争端，而不是挑衅对方。

Tōngguò duìhuà jiějué zhēngduān, ér bùshì tiǎoxìn duìfāng.

Resolve disputes through dialogue, not by provoking the other party.

Related Characters

Component: 半

Component: 血

衅