惯 (guàn) — to be used to; to be accustomed to (often 惯了 as a resultative complement); to spoil; to indulge (a child)
Definition
惯 is a verb used mainly in set phrases: 惯了 as a resultative complement meaning 'used to' (close to 习惯), and 惯坏/娇惯 meaning 'to spoil (a child)'. For 'spoil', 纵容 is for tolerating bad behavior, while 娇惯 / 宠 focus on pampering a person.
verb
to be used toto be accustomed to (often 惯了 as a resultative complement)to spoilto indulge (a child)
Examples
- 惯。Wǒ chī guàn le zài shí táng chī fàn.I am used to eating in the cafeteria.
- 惯。Bié guàn huài hái zi.Don't spoil the child.
- 。Tā yǐ jīng xí guàn le zhè ge chéng shì de jié zòu.He is already used to the pace of this city.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 慣; 惯 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
貫
貫guàn慣guàn
Same sound today
The traditional form 慣 shows 忄 (heart) beside 貫, which gives the sound; the simplified 惯 is a shorthand. Habit is what one does by heart.
Appears in
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