Definitions

xié (adjective) evil; demonic; nefarious
xié (noun) unhealthy influences causing disease (in Chinese medicine)
xié (adjective) strange; abnormal

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the sound and ⻏ represents the meaning. Based on the original use as a place name. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

About

The character 邪 denotes evil, wickedness, or deviation from moral norms. Structurally, it is a phono-semantic compound: the radical 阝(yì) on the right indicates a city or region, while the left component 牙 (yá), meaning "tooth", functions solely as a phonetic element, providing the character's pronunciation without contributing semantic meaning related to teeth. Historically, 邪 originally referred to a geographic place name, but over centuries its meaning shifted to describe malicious spirits, corrupt conduct, and unorthodox practices contrary to accepted societal standards.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个人的想法很恶。

Zhège rén de xiǎngfǎ hěn xié'è.

This person's thoughts are very evil.

他认为自己中了

Tā rènwéi zìjǐ zhòngle xié.

He believes he has been possessed by evil spirits.

我们要坚决抵制教组织。

Wǒmen yào jiānjué dǐzhì xiéjiào zǔzhī.

We must resolutely resist cult organizations.

感冒多由风入侵引起。

Gǎnmào duō yóu fēngxié rùqīn yǐnqǐ.

Colds are often caused by the invasion of pathogenic wind.

仪式并没有实际效果。

Qūxié yíshì bìng méiyǒu shíjì xiàoguǒ.

The exorcism ritual has no practical effect.

那笑容里透着一股气。

Nà xiàoróng lǐ tòu zhe yī gǔ xiéqì.

There was a hint of wickedness in that smile.

社会上的歪风气必须纠正。

Shèhuì shàng de wāifēng xiéqì bìxū jiūzhèng.

The corrupt trends in society must be corrected.

他正莫辨的态度让人困惑。

Tā zhèng xié mò biàn de tàidù ràng rén kùnhuò.

His ambiguous attitude, indistinguishably right or wrong, is confusing.