贻

貽

yí

台 + 贝

Definitions

yí to present; to bequeath

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 贝 represents the meaning and 台 represents the sound. Simplified form of 貽.

Semantic: 贝 Phonetic: 台

About

贻 (simplified from 貽) is a phono-semantic compound: the meaning-related radical 贝 (bèi) and the sound component 台 (tái). The traditional form has the full shell character 貝, a pictogram of a cowrie shell, which ties the meaning to wealth, valuables, and trade, cowrie shells were once used as currency. The character covers both giving a gift or bequeathing something, and the more negative sense of leaving behind harmful consequences, lasting regrets, or a bad example.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

不要贻误时机。

Bù yào yíwù shíjī.

Don't miss the opportunity.

他因贻误工作被批评。

Tā yīn yíwù gōngzuò bèi pīpíng.

He was criticized for delaying work.

错误决策可能贻害无穷。

Cuòwù juécè kěnéng yíhài wúqióng.

Wrong decisions may cause endless harm.

这份礼物是馈贻亲友的。

Zhè fèn lǐwù shì kuìyí qīnyǒu de.

This gift is for presenting to relatives and friends.

拖延时间只会贻误大事。

Tuōyán shíjiān zhǐ huì yíwù dàshì.

Procrastinating will only delay important matters.

他的疏忽贻害了整个团队。

Tā de shūhu yíhàile zhěng gè tuánduì.

His negligence harmed the entire team.

为了避免贻误，我们必须提前准备。

Wèile bìmiǎn yíwù, wǒmen bìxū tíqián zhǔnbèi.

To avoid delay, we must prepare in advance.

这种管理方式可能贻害后代，需谨慎对待。

Zhè zhǒng guǎnlǐ fāngshì kěnéng yíhài hòudài, xū jǐnshèn duìdài.

This management style may harm future generations and needs to be treated cautiously.

Related Characters

Component: 台

Component: 贝

贻