About
The character 觊 (traditional: 覬) is a phono-semantic compound. Its right side, the radical 见, relates to seeing or observation, while the left component 岂 provides the phonetic element. The character specifically denotes the act of coveting or greedily eyeing something not rightfully one’s own. It appears almost exclusively in formal compound words to describe an ambitious or improper longing, often for power, territory, or wealth, and carries a negative connotation of scheming or harboring ulterior motives. The vision radical underscores how visually perceiving a desirable object can give rise to such an inappropriate desire.
Etymology Hide
