About
郁 began as a phonosemantic compound, with 有 (yǒu) for sound and 阝 for meaning, and originally meant "elegant" or "refined". It later became the simplified form of the traditional character 鬱, which includes the component 林 (forest) and conveys the ideas of lush, thick vegetation and a powerful, concentrated fragrance. The dense, crowded appearance of 鬱 then inspired figurative meanings related to psychological states: feeling gloomy, pent-up, or emotionally stagnant. Today, the simplified 郁 carries all these meanings, describing both richly fragrant or verdant settings and heavy, melancholic moods, with context determining the intended sense.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
郁金香很美。
我今天有点郁闷。
咖啡的味道很浓郁。
她的眼神中带着忧郁。
他心中郁结着烦恼。
夏天的夜晚非常郁热。
森林里弥漫着浓郁的木香。
长期忧郁可能导致心理健康问题。
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