妒 (dù) — jealousy, envy
Definition
妒 (dù) is a written, literary word for jealousy or envy — used almost only in the set phrase 嫉妒. In everyday speech, say 嫉妒 or 眼红 instead.
noun
jealousyenvy
Easily confused
- 护hùlook-aliketo protect
- 度dùsound-alike(verb) to spend (time), to pass (time)
- 炉lúlook-alike(bound form) stove, furnace (used in compounds such as 炉子, 电炉, 火炉)
- 杜dùsound-alike(surname) Du
- 沪hùlook-alikeabbreviation for Shanghai (used in codes, signs, and formal contexts)
- 渡dùsound-aliketo cross (a river, sea, etc.)
Examples
- 。Tā de chéng gōng yǐn fā le bié rén de jí dù.His success aroused others' envy.
- ，。Tā xīn zhōng chōng mǎn le jí dù, dàn shén me dōu méi shuō.Her heart was full of jealousy, but she said nothing.
- 。Bú yào yīn wèi jí dù ér shāng hài tā rén.Don't hurt others because of envy.
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
戶
戶hù妒
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
In 妒, the left part 女 shows the idea of a woman, while the right part 戶 supplies the sound.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.