About
The character "荆", whose traditional form is "荊", combines the grass radical "艹" with the component "刑", the latter primarily serving a phonetic function rather than contributing meaning related to punishment. Initially referring to a thorny shrub such as the chaste tree or vitex, its usage extended over time to include significant geographical designations like the region of Jingzhou and symbolic roles in idioms such as "负荆请罪", where it denotes a whip made from the plant for expressing remorse. This expansion also led to associative meanings of humility and simplicity, evident in terms like "荆钗布裙", while the character's fundamental botanical reference remained consistent throughout its historical application.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
路上有很多荆棘。
荆条可以用来编筐。
这种植物叫荆芥。
他在荆棘丛中迷路了。
奶奶用荆条做了个花篮。
这片荒野布满了荆棘。
面对生活的荆棘，她从不退缩。
这些古老的荆编手艺正在失传。