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割舍 (gē shě) — to give up (reluctantly); to part with (something cherished)

Definition

Means giving something up only with real reluctance or pain — not a neutral 'give up'. Usually paired with what is being given up (感情, 习惯, 回忆) rather than used alone.

verb
to give up (reluctantly)to part with (something cherished)

Examples

  • 割舍。
    Tā hěn nán gē shě duì gù xiāng de gǎn qíng.
    He finds it hard to part with his feelings for his hometown.
  • 割舍。
    Shì gāi gē shě zhè ge huài xí guàn de shí hou le.
    It's time to give up this bad habit.
  • 割舍。
    Tā zhōng yú gē shě le ér shí de wán jù.
    She finally parted with her childhood toys.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

割gēcut
舍shègive up

割 means cut and 舍 means give up, so the idea is cutting away something one would rather keep.

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
刂Written in full as刀dāo
Sound part声符shēngfú
害
害hài割gē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

割 combines 害, which provides the sound, with 刂, the knife form of 刀, to show cutting.

Open 割 →

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
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú舍shè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

舍 is 余 plus 口. 余 was the original picture for this word, and 口 was later added to distinguish it.

Open 舍 →
Appears in
Emotions & Feelings

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