About
The character "辜" is etymologically a phono-semantic compound, integrating the semantic component "辛", which traditionally carries connotations of crime or punishment, with the phonetic component "古" that guides its pronunciation. Originally denoting a specific criminal offense or transgression in classical Chinese, its semantic scope expanded over time to encompass broader notions of guilt and personal blame. This shift is reflected in its modern usage, where it primarily functions within compounds such as "无辜", meaning innocent, or "辜负", indicating a failure to live up to expectations, thus moving from a concrete legal term to abstract expressions of moral responsibility and letdown.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他是无辜的。
不要辜负父母。
我们绝不能辜负信任。
那个无辜的孩子哭了。
辜负别人的好意是不对的。
她感到自己辜负了大家的期望。
在调查中，他被证明是完全无辜的。
如果你继续这样做事，将会辜负所有支持你的人。