恶

惡

ě, è, wù

亚 + 心

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

è (adjective) evil; fierce; vicious; ugly

wù (verb) to hate; to loathe

ě (adjective) nauseating; disgusting

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 心 represents the meaning and 亚 represents the sound. Simplified form of 惡.

Semantic: 心 Phonetic: 亚

About

恶 is a phonosemantic compound: the heart radical 心 at the bottom contributes the meaning of emotion or moral states, while 亚 on top provides the sound. It is the simplified form of 惡, which paired the traditional phonetic 亞 with 心. The character encompasses several related negative senses, including objective evil and wickedness, the subjective feeling of hatred or disgust, and physical nausea.

Etymology Hide

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)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 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

这个味道很恶心。

Zhège wèidao hěn ěxin.

This taste is very disgusting.

天气条件很恶劣。

Tiānqì tiáojiàn hěn èliè.

The weather conditions are very bad.

她说了一些恶毒的话。

Tā shuōle yīxiē èdú de huà.

She said some malicious words.

我厌恶这种行为。

Wǒ yànwù zhè zhǒng xíngwéi.

I detest this kind of behavior.

那个恶霸欺负小孩。

Nàge èbà qīfu xiǎohái.

That bully bullies children.

赌博是一种恶习。

Dǔbó shì yī zhǒng èxí.

Gambling is a bad habit.

那只狗看起来凶恶。

Nà zhī gǒu kàn qǐlái xiōng'è.

That dog looks fierce.

他的恶作剧有时会让人生气。

Tā de èzuòjù yǒushí huì ràng rén shēngqì.

His pranks sometimes make people angry.

Related Characters

Component: 亚

Component: 心

Example Words