辜

gū

古 + 辛

Definitions

gū (noun) crime; sin

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 辛 represents the meaning and 古 represents the sound.

Semantic: 辛 Phonetic: 古

About

辜 is a phono-semantic compound: 辛, associated with bitterness, crime, and punishment, gives the meaning, while 古 on top provides the sound. Its primary meanings are guilt, crime, and wrongdoing, reflecting the severe consequences of criminal acts in historical justice. The character also commonly expresses letting someone down, failing to live up to expectations, or showing ingratitude for kindness and trust.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他是无辜的。

Tā shì wúgū de.

He is innocent.

不要辜负父母。

Bùyào gūfù fùmǔ.

Do not let down your parents.

我们绝不能辜负信任。

Wǒmen jué bù néng gūfù xìnrèn.

We must never betray trust.

那个无辜的孩子哭了。

Nàge wúgū de háizi kū le.

That innocent child cried.

辜负别人的好意是不对的。

Gūfù biérén de hǎoyì shì bù duì de.

It is wrong to let down others' kindness.

她感到自己辜负了大家的期望。

Tā gǎndào zìjǐ gūfù le dàjiā de qīwàng.

She felt that she had let down everyone's expectations.

在调查中，他被证明是完全无辜的。

Zài diàochá zhōng, tā bèi zhèngmíng shì wánquán wúgū de.

During the investigation, he was proven completely innocent.

如果你继续这样做事，将会辜负所有支持你的人。

Rúguǒ nǐ jìxù zhèyàng zuòshì, jiāng huì gūfù suǒyǒu zhīchí nǐ de rén.

If you continue to act like this, you will let down all the people who support you.

Related Characters

Component: 古

Component: 辛

Example Words