咎

jiù

口 + 处

Definitions

jiù fault; to blame; to punish; calamity; misfortune

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 处 represents the sound.

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 处

About

咎 is a phonosemantic compound that combines the sound component 处 with the meaning component 口 (mouth), reflecting its association with speech and blame. Its original meaning centered on natural disasters, ill omens, and grave misfortunes, but over time it shifted toward human culpability, coming to denote faults, mistakes, and the resulting blame or punishment. The character now appears in formal contexts to discuss assigning responsibility, undertaking self-criticism, or enduring the severe consequences of misjudgments.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他将失败归咎于运气。

Tā jiāng shībài guījiù yú yùnqì.

He blames the failure on luck.

别把错误归咎于我。

Bié bǎ cuòwù guījiù yú wǒ.

Don't blame the mistake on me.

人们常将问题归咎于政府。

Rénmen cháng jiāng wèntí guījiù yú zhèngfǔ.

People often blame problems on the government.

你不应该自咎过度。

Nǐ bù yīnggāi zìjiù guòdù.

You shouldn't blame yourself excessively.

这场事故的咎责在他身上。

Zhè chǎng shìgù de jiùzé zài tā shēnshàng.

The blame for this accident lies with him.

公司领导引咎辞职了。

Gōngsī lǐngdǎo yǐnjiù cízhí le.

The company leader resigned to take the blame.

无需为他的过失而咎责自己。

Wúxū wèi tā de guòshī ér jiùzé zìjǐ.

There is no need to blame yourself for his mistake.

尽管多方调查，事故的真正咎因仍未查明。

Jǐnguǎn duōfāng diàochá, shìgù de zhēnzhèng jiùyīn réng wèi chámíng.

Despite multiple investigations, the real cause of the accident remains unclear.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 口

Component: 处

Example Words