About
As a phono-semantic compound, 悝 uses the heart radical 忄 on the left to connect it to emotions and inner states, while the component 里 (lǐ) on the right provides its pronunciation. In classical texts, the character has two opposite meanings depending on how it is read: it can describe deep sorrow and anxiety, or it can mean to mock or ridicule. Since these meanings are confined to ancient literature, 悝 is now rarely used outside of occasional proper names or surnames and does not appear in modern everyday language.
Etymology Hide
