Definitions

chù (verb) to touch; to make contact with
chù (verb) to stir up emotions

Etymology

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The traditional form 觸 is a phono-semantic compound with the semantic radical 角 (horn) on the left and the phonetic component 蜀 (shǔ) on the right. The horn radical points to the original meaning: an animal butting or goring with its horns. In the simplified form 触, 蜀 is replaced by 虫 (insect), which functions purely as a phonetic element here. Over time, the meaning broadened from horn-striking to general physical contact, and later to abstract senses like triggering an emotion or violating a rule.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

摸了小猫。

Wǒ chùmō le xiǎo māo.

I touched the kitten.

不要接热水。

Bùyào jiēchù rè shuǐ.

Do not touch hot water.

动了开关。

Tā chùdòng le kāiguān.

He triggered the switch.

这个故事动了我的心。

Zhège gùshi chùdòngle wǒ de xīn.

This story touched my heart.

新事物能增长知识。

Jiēchù xīn shìwù néng zēngzhǎng zhīshi.

Contact with new things can increase knowledge.

摸屏技术现在很普及。

Chùmō píng jìshù xiànzài hěn pǔjí.

Touch screen technology is very common now.

他的行为犯了法律。

Tā de xíngwéi chùfànle fǎlǜ.

His behavior violated the law.

这项政策发了社会的广泛讨论。

Zhè xiàng zhèngcè chùfāle shèhuì de guǎngfàn tǎolùn.

This policy triggered widespread discussion in society.