About
The character "悠" is constructed from the semantic component "心" (heart/mind) beneath the phonetic and semantic component "攸", which itself depicts a person ("人" or "亻") being struck by a stick next to water, conveying a sense of movement or traveling far. This etymology informs its core meanings of remoteness and distance, both in a physical and temporal sense. Over time, the inclusion of the "heart" radical directed these connotations inward, developing abstract applications related to a state of mind. Thus, while "悠" retained its original sense of something being far away or long-lasting, it equally came to describe a leisurely, unhurried attitude, as if the mind were wandering freely across a distance, and even a profound, lingering emotional state, such as melancholy or nostalgia, that stretches across time. This interplay between external distance and internal reflection defines the character's conceptual range.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他的生活很悠闲。
这首歌旋律悠扬。
中国有悠久的历史。
悠长的假期结束了。
她悠悠地走着。
故事发生在悠远的古代。
你做事要悠着点。
我们享受悠闲的下午茶时光。