深居简出 (shēn jū jiǎn chū) — to live in seclusion, rarely going out or socia… | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Idiom for someone who stays home and rarely goes out, emphasizing a withdrawn, reclusive lifestyle (by choice or habit). Often describes writers, retirees, or introverts who avoid socializing.

idiom

to live in seclusionrarely going out or socializing

Examples

深居简出，。
Zhè wèi lǎo zuò jiā shēn jū jiǎn chū, hěn shǎo cān jiā shè jiāo huó dòng.
This old writer lives in seclusion and seldom takes part in social activities.
深居简出，。
Tuì xiū hòu tā shēn jū jiǎn chū, měi tiān zài jiā dú shū xiě zì.
After retirement, he leads a secluded life, reading and writing at home every day.
，深居简出，。
Tā xìng gé nèi xiàng, yì zhí shēn jū jiǎn chū, bù xǐ yǔ rén lái wǎng.
She is introverted and has always lived a reclusive life, not fond of interacting with others.

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.

深居live in seclusion

深shēndeep居jūreside

偏正Modifier + head

简出go out rarely

简jiǎnrarely出chūgo out

偏正Modifier + head

深居 and 简出 together describe staying deep at home and going out rarely.

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

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

𥥍

𥥍𥥍深shēn

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

深 is built from 氵, the side form of 水 “water”, and 𥥍, which supplies the sound.

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

尸古居

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

古

古gǔ居jū

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

居 is built from 尸 as the meaning part and 古 (gǔ) as the sound part.

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 簡; 简 is its simplified writing.

竹間簡

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

間

閒xián簡jiǎn

Same sound today

In the traditional form 簡, 竹 (bamboo) is paired with 間 (also written 閒) as a sound part; the simplified 简 is a later shorthand.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

止止zhǐfoot
凵凵kǎncave

出 combines 止 (foot) and 凵 (cave) to show a foot stepping out of a cave.

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