颐

頤

yí

页 + 𦣞

Definitions

yí (literary) chin; jaw; (literary) to foster; to nurture; to protect

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 页 represents the meaning and 𦣞 represents the sound. Simplified form of 頤.

Semantic: 页 Phonetic: 臣

About

颐, the simplified version of the traditional character 頤, is a phono-semantic compound that bridges facial anatomy and the idea of sustaining health. In the traditional form, the semantic component is 頁 (head), linking the character to the head and face. The left side is 𦣞 (yí), the phonetic component, which itself originally depicted a chin, gently underscoring the character's meaning. The simplified character 颐 replaces 頁 with the simplified radical 页 and streamlines the left component to reduce strokes. The character originally denoted the chin, cheeks, or lower jaw. Because the jaw is essential for chewing and taking in nourishment, the meaning broadened to include nourishing the body, maintaining good health, and resting to restore vitality.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们去颐和园游玩。

Wǒmen qù Yíhéyuán yóuwán.

We go to the Summer Palace for fun.

颐和园的风景非常漂亮。

Yíhéyuán de fēngjǐng fēichāng piàoliang.

The scenery of the Summer Palace is very beautiful.

他注重颐养身体健康。

Tā zhùzhòng yíyǎng shēntǐ jiànkāng.

He pays attention to maintaining his physical health.

颐养身心是重要的生活原则。

Yíyǎng shēnxīn shì zhòngyào de shēnghuó yuánzé.

Nourishing body and mind is an important life principle.

老人应该颐养晚年。

Lǎorén yīnggāi yíyǎng wǎnnián.

Elderly people should take care of themselves in their later years.

颐神养性有助于提高生活质量。

Yíshén yǎngxìng yǒu zhù yú tígāo shēnghuó zhìliàng.

Nourishing the spirit and cultivating nature helps improve the quality of life.

在中医里，颐养正气很重要。

Zài zhōngyī lǐ, yíyǎng zhèngqì hěn zhòngyào.

In traditional Chinese medicine, nourishing vital energy is very important.

通过均衡饮食和适度运动，我们可以更好地颐养生命。

Tōngguò jūnhéng yǐnshí hé shìdù yùndòng, wǒmen kěyǐ gèng hǎo de yíyǎng shēngmìng.

Through balanced diet and moderate exercise, we can better nourish our lives.

Related Characters

Component: 页

Component: 𦣞

颐