About
The character "袒" is structurally composed of the cloth radical (衤) on the left, indicating a relationship to clothing or fabric, combined with the phonetic component "旦" on the right. Its original and core meaning is to bare or expose part of the body, such as the chest or arms, an act with specific ritual and social connotations in early contexts. From this physical sense of exposure, the meaning extended metaphorically to signify taking sides or showing partiality, as in exposing one's allegiance. A traditional variant form of this character, "襢", exists with the same phonetic element but a slightly different arrangement; however, it is not the direct antecedent of the simplified form "袒" and carries a more specific meaning related to unlined garments. Over centuries, the literal use regarding baring the body has become less common, while the figurative usage concerning biased support has become the character's primary application in modern language.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他总是袒护弟弟。
她袒露了自己的心声。
父母不应该袒护孩子的错误。
在会议上，他袒露了公司的困境。
尽管证据确凿，他仍然袒护嫌疑人。
她勇敢地袒露过去，希望帮助他人。
法官必须公正，不能袒护任何一方。
在道德冲突中，他选择袒露真相而非袒护朋友。