顾忌 (gù jì) — (verb) to have misgivings; to scruple; to hesitate out of concern; (noun) misgivings; scruples; concern about potential negative consequences

Definition

顾忌 (gùjì) means holding back from saying or doing something because of possible bad consequences — a careful, cautious concern rather than open fear. It is more about weighing risks and social consequences than 担心 (worry about a specific outcome).

verb
to have misgivingsto scrupleto hesitate out of concern
noun
misgivingsscruplesconcern about potential negative consequences

Examples

  • 顾忌。
    Tā shuō huà cóng bú gù jì bié rén de gǎn shòu.
    He never hesitates out of concern for others' feelings when he speaks.
  • 顾忌。
    Tā zuò zhè ge jué dìng shí méi yǒu rèn hé gù jì.
    She had no misgivings when making this decision.
  • 顾忌,。
    Yīn wèi gù jì tài duō, tā méi gǎn tí nà ge jiàn yì.
    Because he had too many misgivings, he didn't dare bring up that suggestion.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

顾gùconcern
忌jìavoid

顾 suggests concern or hesitation, and 忌 points to avoidance or taboo, so the word means having scruples about consequences.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 顧; 顾 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yè
Sound part声符shēngfú
雇
雇gù顧gù
Same sound today

The traditional form 顧 combines 雇 as a sound part and 頁 as a meaning part; 顾 is the simplified form of 顧.

Open 顾 →

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
己
己jǐ忌jì
Same sound today

忌 combines 己, which gives the sound, with 心, the heart, as the part connected to the meaning.

Open 忌 →

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