Definitions

huì (bound form) last day of a lunar month; (bound form) dark; gloomy; (literary) night

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "晦" finds its origins in ancient Chinese lunar reckoning, where it specifically denoted the last day of the lunar month characterized by the moon's absence from the night sky. Its construction is a phono-semantic compound, integrating the sun radical "日" to anchor its association with celestial cycles and the component "每" which primarily served a phonetic function. From this precise calendrical meaning, the term gradually extended its application to describe physical darkness or dimness in a more general sense. This literal notion of obscured light further evolved into metaphorical territories, allowing "晦" to convey abstract concepts of obscurity, concealment, and eventually even adverse or unlucky circumstances, marking a transition from a concrete astronomical term to a word with broader semantic range covering both the lack of light and clarity.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
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 Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

天色突然变得暗。

Tiān sè tū rán biàn de huì àn。

The sky suddenly became dark and gloomy.

他今天一脸气。

Tā jīn tiān yī liǎn huì qì。

He looks unlucky today.

这本书的语言有些涩。

Zhè běn shū de yǔ yán yǒu xiē huì sè。

The language in this book is somewhat obscure.

不要说不吉利的话,那很气。

Bù yào shuō bù jí lì de huà, nà hěn huì qì。

Don't say unlucky things; that's very inauspicious.

文章的含义涩难懂。

Wén zhāng de hán yì huì sè nán dǒng。

The meaning of the article is obscure and hard to understand。

他对自己的过去总是莫如深。

Tā duì zì jǐ de guò qù zǒng shì huì mò rú shēn。

He is always secretive and evasive about his past。

暗的灯光让房间显得很压抑。

Huì àn de dēng guāng ràng fáng jiān xiǎn de hěn yā yì。

The dim light made the room feel very oppressive。

在那些暗的日子里,他从未放弃希望。

Zài nà xiē huì àn de rì zi lǐ, tā cóng wèi fàng qì xī wàng。

In those gloomy days, he never gave up hope。