妒忌心 (dù jì xīn) — jealousy, envy (as a trait) | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Refers to jealousy as a personal character trait — the tendency to feel envious or resentful of others. Used in formal or written contexts; lighter than 嫉妒 (jídù) which names the feeling itself.

noun

jealousyenvy (as a trait)

Examples

妒忌心。
Tā de dù jì xīn tài zhòng le.
His jealousy is too strong.
妒忌心。
Zhè zhǒng dù jì xīn huì huǐ diào yǒu yì.
This kind of jealousy can destroy friendship.
妒忌心。
Wǒ wú fǎ rěn shòu tā de dù jì xīn.
I can't stand his jealousy.

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.

妒忌jealousy

妒dùenvy忌jìjealous

联合Side by side

The feeling of 妒忌 is understood as a disposition of the 心.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

女女nǚwoman

Sound part声符shēngfú

戶

戶hù妒

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 妒, the left part 女 shows the idea of a woman, while the right part 戶 supplies the sound.

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

己心忌

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

己

己jǐ忌jì

Same sound today

忌 combines 己, which gives the sound, with 心, the heart, as the part connected to the meaning.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 心 comes from a drawing of a heart, now highly stylized.

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