忤 (wǔ) — disobedient, unfilial

Definition

忤 is a bound form meaning 'disobey (a parent/elders)'; it almost always appears in 忤逆, which is the literary, written way to say 'be unfilial' (acts against parents).

bound form
disobedientunfilial
Easily confused

Examples

  • 忤，。
    Tā yīn wèi wǔ nì bú xiào, bèi jiā rén gǎn chū le mén.
    He was kicked out by his family for being unfilial and disobedient.
  • 忤。
    wǔ Nì de xíng wéi zài gǔ dài shì hěn dà de zuì míng.
    Unfilial behavior was a very serious crime in ancient times.
  • 忤。
    Fù mǔ zuì bù néng róng rěn de jiù shì zǐ nǚ wǔ nì.
    What parents can tolerate least is their children being unfilial.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
午
午wǔ忤
Same sound today

忤 combines 心 (heart) with 午, which shows how it is pronounced.

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