备感 (bèi gǎn) — to feel deeply, to be filled with (a certain emotion)

Definition

A formal/literary verb meaning 'to feel deeply (a certain emotion)' — used in writing, not everyday speech. Note the 备 (not 背) and the 2nd tone on 感.

verb
to feel deeplyto be filled with (a certain emotion)
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，备感。
    Shōu dào nín de lái xìn, wǒ bèi gǎn wēn nuǎn.
    Receiving your letter, I feel deeply warmed.
  • ，备感。
    Néng cān jiā zhè cì huó dòng, wǒ bèi gǎn róng xìng.
    I feel deeply honored to be able to participate in this event.
  • 备感。
    Tā duì wǒ de bāng zhù ràng wǒ bèi gǎn qīn qiè.
    His help to me made me feel deeply warm and close.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

备bèifully
感gǎnfeel

备 means fully and 感 means feel, so the word means to feel something deeply.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 備; 备 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 備 shows a person carrying a quiver, matching the meaning 'ready; prepared'; the simplified 备 is a later abbreviation.

Open 备 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
咸
咸xián感gǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

感 pairs 咸, which gives the sound, with 心, the heart, for feeling.

Open 感 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.