About
The character "撩", with its traditional form identical to the simplified one, is constructed from the hand radical (扌) on the left, indicating an action performed by the hand, combined with "尞" on the right, which historically served as a phonetic component but also carried connotations of burning or preparing. Its earliest meanings centered on the physical acts of preparing, arranging, or lifting something, such as stirring up a fire or lifting a curtain. Over time, the sense of provoking or stirring shifted from the purely physical realm to the interpersonal, taking on meanings related to teasing, inciting, or provoking emotions or reactions in others. In more recent contemporary usage, particularly in informal contexts, this notion of provocation has further narrowed to often describe a specific, playful form of flirtatious teasing or an attempt to attract romantic interest, marking a distinct semantic specialization from its original broader applications.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
请不要撩那只小猫。
她的笑容很撩人。
他轻轻撩起窗帘。
春风撩动她的长发。
他用话语撩拨她的心弦。
每当夜晚，歌声撩起我的乡愁。
他试图撩她说话，但她保持沉默。
那部电影的情节撩人心弦，让人回味无穷。