About
The character 桀 primarily functions as an adjective meaning exceptionally cruel and fierce, though it can also denote outstanding or prominent ability. Structurally, it combines 舛 at the top, representing opposing feet, with the semantic radical 木 (wood) at the bottom. Historically, it is most strongly associated with King Jie, the tyrannical final ruler of the Xia dynasty, whose notoriety cemented the character's primary meaning of brutal tyranny. Despite this negative connotation, it occasionally appears in classical texts to describe extraordinary talent, drawing on an earlier sense of standing out prominently.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他性格十分桀骜。
那个年轻人显得桀骜不驯。
历史上，夏桀是一个暴君。
他总是一副桀骜的样子，很难接近。
这篇文章批判了桀纣的暴政。
他的眼神中透着一股桀骜之气。
艺术家往往带有桀骜不群的个性。
这种桀骜的精神或许是其创新的源泉。