感怀 (gǎn huái) — to recall with emotion; to reminisce | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

感怀 (gǎn huái) is a literary, written-style verb meaning to recall the past with deep feeling — tone is more reflective and emotional than neutral 回忆 ('recall'). Often used in titles and formal writing.

verb

to recall with emotionto reminisce

Examples

感怀。
Tā cháng cháng gǎn huái qǐ tóng nián de shí guāng.
He often recalls his childhood days with emotion.
感怀。
Zhè shǒu shī gē biǎo dá le shī rén duì gù xiāng de gǎn huái.
This poem expresses the poet's nostalgic feelings for his hometown.
，感怀。
Lǎo yǒu xiāng jù, miǎn bù liǎo gǎn huái wǎng shì.
When old friends get together, they can't help reminiscing about the past.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

怀huáicherish

感 expresses feeling and 怀 expresses cherishing memories, together meaning to recall with emotion.

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.

咸心感

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.

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 懷; 怀 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

褱

褱huái懷huái

Same sound today

The traditional form 懷 uses 心 (heart) to show longing and 褱 for the sound; the simplified 怀 is a later shorthand.

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