Definitions

jiù (noun) guilt; remorse
jiù (noun) chronic illness

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "疚" is etymologically derived from the combination of the radical 疒, indicating illness or disease, and the component 久, which conveys a sense of prolonged duration, initially framing the term around the concept of a chronic or persistent physical ailment. Over time, its semantic range expanded beyond mere physical distress to encompass psychological states, particularly the enduring inner torment associated with guilt or remorse, a shift observable in literary usage where it gradually came to denote moral discomfort or self-reproach. This transition highlights how the character's structure continues to inform its meaning, with 久 reinforcing the idea of a lasting condition, whether referring to a sickness of the body or a lingering affliction of the conscience.

Example Sentences Hide

我感到很内

Wǒ gǎndào hěn nèijiù.

I feel very guilty.

他对自己的行为内

Tā duì zìjǐ de xíngwéi nèijiù.

He feels guilty about his behavior.

她为说错话而内

Tā wèi shuō cuò huà ér nèijiù.

She feels guilty for saying the wrong thing.

的心情难以平静。

Kuìjiù de xīnqíng nányǐ píngjìng.

The feeling of guilt is hard to calm.

他内地低下了头。

Tā nèijiù de dīxiàle tóu.

He lowered his head guiltily.

因为伤害了朋友,他深感愧

Yīnwèi shānghàile péngyou, tā shēn gǎn kuìjiù.

Because he hurt his friend, he feels deep guilt.

每当想起那件事,他就感到无比内

Měi dāng xiǎngqǐ nà jiàn shì, tā jiù gǎndào wúbǐ nèijiù.

Whenever he thinks of that matter, he feels extremely guilty.

尽管已经道歉,但他内心的愧感依然无法消除。

Jǐnguǎn yǐjīng dàoqiàn, dàn tā nèixīn de kuìjiù gǎn yīrán wúfǎ xiāochú.

Although he has already apologized, the sense of guilt in his heart still cannot be eliminated.