About
The traditional character "犧" is structured with the semantic component "牛" indicating its bovine association and the phonetic component "羲", originally denoting an unblemished, pure-colored animal used in religious rituals. Over time, its meaning concentrated specifically on such ritual offerings, becoming fixed in the compound "牺牲" for sacrificial victim. The simplified form "牺" retains the "牛" radical but replaces the phonetic with "西", a component chosen for its modern phonetic correspondence. While the character's core historical sense remains tied to ritual slaughter, the term "牺牲" has extended in application to describe any voluntary relinquishment of something valuable for a broader purpose.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他为国家牺牲了。
战士们牺牲在战场上。
为了和平，许多人牺牲了。
如果不牺牲，就不会成功。
他的牺牲带来了巨大的改变。
在革命中，无数英雄牺牲了生命。
尽管牺牲很大，但他们从未后悔过。
牺牲小我，完成大我，是一种高尚的品质。