About
The character "狷" is structured with the canine radical 犭 paired with the phonetic component 肙, originally denoting the impulsive nature of a dog before being applied to human temperament. In early Chinese literature, such as the Analects, it described a cautious or restrained person who abstains from improper actions, but its meaning later shifted to convey a sense of uprightness combined with stubbornness or aloofness, as seen in the compound "狷介", which emphasizes an uncompromising moral rigidity.
Etymology Hide
