Definitions

qiàn dissatisfied
qiè contented

Etymology phono-semantic

heart

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

combines the vertical heart radical (xīn) on the left, signaling psychological states, with the phonetic component (jiān) on the right. Its meaning shifts with pronunciation: when read as qiàn, it conveys dissatisfaction or regret; when read as qiè, it expresses satisfaction or contentment. This duality, grounded in the heart radical, demands attention to context in historical and literary texts to discern which emotion is intended.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern