蹙

cù

戚 + 足

Definitions

cù to knit (one's brows); wrinkled (of brows); to hesitate; distressed

Etymology phono-semantic

grieving

Semantic: 戚 Phonetic: 足

About

蹙 is a phono-semantic compound whose original senses, pressing close, contracting, being cramped and distressed, are reflected in its structure. The bottom element, 足 (zú, foot), serves as the semantic radical, pointing to treading, stepping, or physical pressure and restriction. Above it, 戚 (qī) acts as the phonetic component. In modern usage, the character almost exclusively describes the knitting of one's brows, a gesture of worry, pain, or deep contemplation. This meaning evolved from spatial constriction and treading to the muscular contraction of the face that accompanies anxiety or distress.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她蹙眉表示不满。

Tā cù méi biǎoshì bùmǎn.

She frowned to show dissatisfaction.

他蹙着眉头想事情。

Tā cù zhe méitóu xiǎng shìqing.

He frowned while thinking about things.

看到错误，他蹙起了眉。

Kàn dào cuòwù, tā cù qǐle méi.

Seeing the mistake, he frowned.

这个问题让他眉头紧蹙。

Zhège wèntí ràng tā méitóu jǐn cù.

This problem made him frown tightly.

她蹙额沉思，显得很忧虑。

Tā cù é chénsī, xiǎnde hěn yōulǜ.

She frowned and pondered, looking very worried.

在窘蹙的经济环境下，人们节省开支。

Zài jiǒng cù de jīngjì huánjìng xià, rénmen jiéshěng kāizhī.

In the straitened economic environment, people save on expenses.

他生活窘蹙，但从不向人求助。

Tā shēnghuó jiǒng cù, dàn cóng bù xiàng rén qiúzhù.

He lives in straitened circumstances, but never asks for help.

面对复杂的局势，他双眉紧蹙，陷入了深思。

Miànduì fùzá de júshì, tā shuāng méi jǐn cù, xiànrùle shēnsī.

Facing the complex situation, he knitted his brows tightly and fell into deep thought.

Related Characters

Component: 戚

Component: 足

蹙