苟

gǒu

句 + 艹

Definitions

gǒu (particle) if; supposing

gǒu (adjective) careless; negligent

gǒu (adverb) temporarily

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 句 represents the sound.

Semantic: 艹 Phonetic: 句

About

苟 is a phono-semantic compound with 艹 (grass, vegetation) indicating meaning and 句 indicating sound. Originally the name of a type of grass, this meaning is now mostly obsolete. The character now primarily serves as an adverb or conjunction meaning "careless", "negligent", or "illicit" for actions, as a conditional conjunction "if" or "supposing that" in classical writing, and as a common surname.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

苟且偷生是不负责任的表现。

Gǒuqiě tóushēng shì bù fù zérèn de biǎoxiàn.

Living just for the sake of staying alive is an irresponsible behavior.

他绝不会苟同这种荒谬的观点。

Tā jué bù huì gǒutóng zhè zhǒng huāngmiù de guāndiǎn.

He would never agree with such an absurd viewpoint.

在原则问题上，我们不能有一丝苟且。

Zài yuánzé wèntí shàng, wǒmen bù néng yǒu yīsī gǒuqiě.

On matters of principle, we cannot have the slightest compromise.

那种苟延残喘的生活毫无尊严。

Nà zhǒng gǒu yán cán chuǎn de shēnghuó háo wú zūnyán.

That kind of precarious life clinging to survival has no dignity at all.

他宁愿清白地死，也不愿苟活于世。

Tā nìngyuàn qīngbái de sǐ, yě bù yuàn gǒuhuó yú shì.

He would rather die with a clear conscience than live on in degradation.

科学研究需要严谨，容不得半点苟且。

Kēxué yánjiū xūyào yánjǐn, róng bu dé bàndiǎn gǒuqiě.

Scientific research requires rigor and allows no carelessness whatsoever.

这种苟合的利益联盟注定不会长久。

Zhè zhǒng gǒuhé de lìyì liánméng zhùdìng bù huì chángjiǔ.

This kind of unprincipled alliance of interests is doomed to be short-lived.

面对强权，他从未苟且偷安，而是奋起抗争。

Miànduì qiángquán, tā cóng wèi gǒuqiě tōu'ān, ér shì fènqǐ kàngzhēng.

In the face of power, he never sought a shameful peace, but instead rose up to resist.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 句

Component: 艹

苟