忌惮 (jì dàn) — to dread; to fear (typically of consequences or authority)

Definition

忌惮 (jì dàn) means to fear or dread specifically because of possible consequences or a powerful force — stronger than 害怕, and usually abstract (法律、权势、后果) rather than physical. Typical in writing and formal speech.

verb
to dreadto fear (typically of consequences or authority)

Examples

  • 忌惮。
    Tā xíng shì cóng bú jì dàn rèn hé zǔ lì.
    He never fears any resistance in his actions.
  • ，忌惮。
    Miàn duì qiáng quán, tā háo wú jì dàn.
    Facing power, she was completely without fear.
  • 忌惮。
    Zhè ge zuì fàn duì fǎ lǜ háo wú jì dàn.
    This criminal has no dread of the law.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

忌jìfear/avoid
惮dàndread

忌 (fear/avoid) and 惮 (dread) both convey being afraid, especially of 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.

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 →

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 憚; 惮 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
單
單dān憚⁰dàn
Same sound today

The traditional form 憚 puts 心 (heart) beside 單 (dān), which gives the sound; the simplified 惮 is a later shorthand.

Open 惮 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.