侈

chǐ

亻 + 多

Definitions

chǐ extravagant; wasteful; exaggerating

Etymology ideographic

A person 亻 with more than they need 多

About

The structure of 侈 is a phono-semantic compound: the left side, 亻 (the standing person radical, from 人), links the character to human conduct and qualities. The right side, 多, means 'many' or 'much' and serves as both phonetic cue and semantic booster, injecting the idea of surplus. The combination points to a person of excessive consumption, from which the core meanings of extravagance, wastefulness, and lavishness beyond one's needs develop. Over time, this has solidified into the modern sense of luxury and financial excess.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他的生活太奢侈了。

Tā de shēnghuó tài shēchǐ le.

His lifestyle is too extravagant.

避免奢侈是一种美德。

Bìmiǎn shēchǐ shì yī zhǒng měidé.

Avoiding extravagance is a virtue.

侈靡的风气不可长。

Chǐmí de fēngqì bùkě zhǎng.

The trend of extravagance should not be encouraged.

她的消费比过去更奢侈。

Tā de xiāofèi bǐ guòqù gèng shēchǐ.

Her spending is more luxurious than before.

我们不应该追求奢侈的生活。

Wǒmen bù yīnggāi zhuīqiú shēchǐ de shēnghuó.

We should not pursue a luxurious life.

奢侈的习惯会导致财务问题。

Shēchǐ de xíguàn huì dǎozhì cáiwù wèntí.

Extravagant habits can lead to financial problems.

社会上的奢侈现象令人担忧。

Shèhuì shàng de shēchǐ xiànxiàng lìng rén dānyōu.

The phenomenon of extravagance in society is worrying.

过度奢侈不仅浪费资源，还败坏风气。

Guòdù shēchǐ bùjǐn làngfèi zīyuán, hái bàihuài fēngqì.

Excessive extravagance not only wastes resources but also corrupts social morals.

Related Characters

Component: 亻

Component: 多

侈