施恩 (shī ēn) — to bestow favor, to do a kindness (formal)

Definition

A formal, literary verb meaning to bestow kindness or do a favor for someone. Used more in writing and moral contexts than in everyday speech.

verb

to bestow favorto do a kindness (formal)

施恩，。
Tā céng jīng duì hěn duō rén shī ēn, xiàn zài dà jiā dōu lái bāng tā.
He once did favors for many people, and now everyone comes to help him.
，。
Zhè wèi lǎo rén yì shēng shī guò bù shǎo ēn, què cóng bù qiú huí bào.
This elderly person bestowed many favors in his life, but never asked for anything in return.
施恩，。
shī ēn Yú rén, shì yì zhǒng měi dé.
Bestowing favors upon others is a virtue.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

施 expresses giving, while 恩 names the favor given, so the word means to bestow kindness.

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

㫃㫃㫃

Sound part声符shēngfú

也

也yě施shī

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

施 pairs 㫃, the part connected to its meaning, with 也, the part giving its sound.

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

因心恩

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

因

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

恩 puts 因, which gives the sound, beside 心, a heart.