About
The character 屈 is structurally composed of the radical 尸, commonly linked to the human body, and the component 出, which historically provided phonetic clues and contributed to early connotations of bending or protruding. Its initial meaning centered on the physical act of stooping or crouching, a sense that gradually extended metaphorically to convey yielding or submission under pressure. This conceptual expansion further led to meanings associated with being forced into compromise or suffering injustice, as exemplified in terms like 委屈. Over time, the character also came to denote abstract shortcomings or deficiencies, such as in 理屈, where it implies a lack of logical grounds. While its form has persisted without major alteration, the semantic trajectory of 屈 illustrates a shift from depicting tangible bodily postures to encompassing psychological and moral conditions.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
妹妹觉得很委屈。
他屈服于压力。
他屈指算了一下。
那是一种屈辱的感觉。
他在这个职位上屈才了。
他从不屈服于困难。
历史上有许多屈死的冤案。
在强权面前，他宁愿受屈也不妥协。