About
歆 is a phono-semantic compound made up of 欠, a semantic component indicating breathing or actions of the mouth, and 音, a phonetic component meaning sound. Its earliest meaning was the act of gods or spirits inhaling and taking pleasure in the aroma of sacrifices. This sense later broadened from ritual to human emotions, coming to mean admiration, pleasure, or envy, as in words expressing envy or admiration.
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