About
The character 贻, with its traditional form 貽, is a phono-semantic compound integrating the radical 贝, representing shell money or valuables, with the component 台 primarily serving a phonetic function. Etymologically, it originally conveyed the act of presenting or bestowing gifts, particularly those of material worth, aligning with the economic symbolism of its semantic element. Over time, its meaning broadened from this concrete sense of giving to encompass the abstract notion of leaving something behind, which in later usage often carried a negative implication, such as bequeathing trouble or incurring ridicule, thereby reflecting a semantic shift from neutral transaction to consequential legacy.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
不要贻误时机。
他因贻误工作被批评。
错误决策可能贻害无穷。
这份礼物是馈贻亲友的。
拖延时间只会贻误大事。
他的疏忽贻害了整个团队。
为了避免贻误，我们必须提前准备。
这种管理方式可能贻害后代，需谨慎对待。