About
The character "怜" originates from its traditional form "憐", which combines the heart radical (忄) with the phonetic component "粦", structurally emphasizing an emotional connection to feelings of pity or compassion, a meaning prevalent in classical Chinese literature. Over centuries, the character's form was streamlined, leading to the simplified version "怜" that substitutes the phonetic element with "令" while keeping the heart radical, thus maintaining its association with emotional states. This structural change did not disrupt the core semantic field, as "怜" has consistently denoted pity or sympathy, though its usage has expanded to encompass softer connotations such as tenderness or affectionate concern, illustrating a gradual semantic broadening while retaining its fundamental link to human empathy.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这个小狗很可怜。
我怜悯那个孩子。
请不要怜悯我。
她充满怜爱地看着他。
他对动物总是充满怜惜之情。
她的眼中流露出深深的怜悯。
虽然他很可怜，但我不能帮助他。
在悲剧面前，我们不禁心生怜悯。