About
The character "欷" is a phono-semantic compound consisting of the semantic component "欠", which relates to breath or mouth actions, and the phonetic component "希", which provides its sound. Etymologically, it originated in classical Chinese to represent the sound of sighing or sobbing, and it has primarily been used in compounds like "欷歔" to convey a sense of lament. Over time, its meaning has remained centered on expressions of grief or subdued emotion, and it is seldom employed independently in modern usage. The character's structure, with "欠" and "希", has persisted without major graphical changes.
Etymology Hide
