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乞怜 (qǐ lián) — to beg for pity or mercy

Definition

Literary verb meaning 'to beg for pity or mercy,' usually in a self-abasing way. Often paired with 摇尾 (wagging the tail), a set phrase evoking a fawning, groveling posture.

verb
to beg for pity or mercy

Examples

  • ，乞怜。
    Tā wèi le huó mìng, bù dé bú xiàng dí rén qǐ lián.
    To survive, he had to beg for mercy from the enemy.
  • ，乞怜。
    Nà zhī gǒu yáo zhe wěi ba, yí fù qǐ lián de yàng zi.
    That dog wagged its tail, looking as if it was begging for pity.
  • 。
    Tā cóng lái méi yǒu xiàng rèn hé rén qǐ guò lián.
    He has never begged anyone for pity.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

乞qǐbeg
怜liánpity

“乞” means to beg, and “怜” means pity or mercy; together they express begging for mercy.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 乞 →

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 憐; 怜 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
粦
粦lín憐lián
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 憐 combines 心 (heart) with 粦, which gives it its sound; the simplified 怜 is a later shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 怜 →
Appears in
Emotions & Feelings

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