瑕 (xiá) — (bound form) flaw, blemish, defect
Definition
A formal, written word for a flaw or blemish, almost always paired with 瑜 to form the set phrase 瑕不掩瑜 ('one flaw does not obscure the jade') or with 疵 as 瑕疵. It does not stand alone in everyday speech.
bound form
flawblemishdefect
Examples
- 。Zhè jiàn yī fu yǒu xiē xiǎo xiǎo de xiá cī.This piece of clothing has some minor flaws.
- ，瑕。Rén wú wán rén, xiá bù yǎn yú.No one is perfect; one flaw doesn't ruin the whole.
- 。Tā de yǎn jì wán měi wú xiá.Her acting is flawless / perfect without a blemish.
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.
Sound part声符shēngfú
叚
叚jiǎ瑕xiá
Same sound today
瑕 has 玉 (jade) on the left and 叚 on the right, where 叚 gives the sound.
Appears in
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