About
The character "侠", with its traditional form "俠", structurally combines the person radical "亻" and the component "夹", which functions phonetically while also suggesting a notion of intermediation or bearing assistance. Etymologically, the term initially described martial figures or retainers in ancient societies who operated with considerable autonomy from state authority. During the Han dynasty, the meaning began to shift from pure martial prowess to include a sense of personal justice, often involving defiance of laws perceived as unfair. This conceptual evolution continued through Tang and Song dynasty narratives, where the侠 was romanticized in poetry and tales, gradually acquiring attributes of moral integrity and altruism. By the Ming and Qing periods, the character's meaning had crystallized in vernacular fiction to designate the chivalrous hero of wuxia stories, embodying a consistent ethos that prioritizes righteous action, loyalty, and the defense of the weak against oppression.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他是一个大侠。
这位侠客帮助了穷人。
我喜欢看武侠小说。
他很有侠义精神。
那个侠客救了被困的人。
在现代社会，侠义行为依然值得赞扬。
尽管他不是真正的侠客，但他的行为充满了侠气。
这部电影中的主角是一位隐姓埋名的侠士，他暗中保护着百姓。