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体恤 (tǐ xù) — to show sympathetic understanding and care for one's difficulties; to be considerate and solicitous of

Definition

A formal verb meaning to empathize with someone's hardship and show consideration for them — typically used of leaders, institutions, or officials toward those under their care (e.g. 上司体恤下属).

verb
to show sympathetic understanding and care for one's difficultiesto be considerate and solicitous of

Examples

  • 体恤。
    Lǐng dǎo yīng gāi tǐ xù xià shǔ de xīn kǔ.
    Leaders should empathize with their subordinates' hardships.
  • 体恤。
    Zhèng fǔ bì xū tǐ xù zāi mín de shí jì kùn nan.
    The government must show concern for the actual difficulties of disaster victims.
  • 体恤。
    Tā zǒng shì néng tǐ xù bié rén de chǔ jìng.
    She can always empathize with others' situations.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

体tǐempathize
恤xùpity

体恤 joins 体, empathizing, and 恤, pity, to mean considerate sympathy.

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 體; 体 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
骨骨gǔbone
Sound part声符shēngfú
豊
豊lǐ體tǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 體 pairs 骨 (bone) with 豊 as a sound part; this note is about 體, not about the parts of 体.

Open 体 →

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
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
血
血xuè恤xù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

恤 has 忄, the heart, on the left, and 血 on the right, which gives the sound.

Open 恤 →
Appears in
Personality & Traits

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