Definitions

jiū see 赳赳[jiū jiū]

Etymology phono-semantic

walk

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character is a phono-semantic compound with the semantic component 'walk/run' curving around the lower left and the phonetic positioned at the upper right to give the sound jiū. The primary meaning is a martial, valiant, or grand bearing; it appears almost solely in the reduplicated form 赳赳, used to portray soldiers as bold, vigorous, and imposing. The radical conveys forceful, active movement and an upright stride emblematic of martial readiness and discipline. The phonetic sets this specific martial sense apart from other words involving motion.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern