About
The character 默, whose form remains consistent between traditional and simplified scripts, is structurally composed of the semantic component 黑 (black, dark) positioned above the phonetic and thematic component 犬 (dog). This combination etymologically suggests a quality of darkness or obscurity associated with the animal, originally conveying a sense of quietness or stillness, as in a dog lying in wait or moving without sound. Over time, its core meaning solidified around silence and the absence of speech, but its conceptual range expanded beyond mere auditory quiet to encompass implied or unexpressed thought. This semantic extension allows 默 to describe tacit understanding, silent contemplation, or actions performed without words, integrating the visual metaphor of darkness with the abstract notion of things left unsaid but inwardly present.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
请保持沉默。
他在默读课文。
我们默哀三分钟。
默认选项是正确的。
他们之间很有默契。
我默默地做完了工作。
老师让我们默写生词。
在那种情况下，沉默往往是最好的回答。