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息 (xī) — (bound form) rest; to cease; (bound form) breath; (bound form) news; information; interest

Definition

A bound morpheme: never used alone. Common in compounds like 休息 (rest), 消息 (news/message), and 利息 (interest). The character itself means 'rest', 'breath', or 'news/interest' depending on the word.

bound form
restto ceasebreathnewsinformationinterest

Examples

  • ，。
    Nǐ gōng zuò tài lèi le, hǎo hǎo xiū xī yí xià.
    You're too tired from work; get some good rest.
  • 。
    Wǒ gāng kàn dào nǐ fā de xiāo xī.
    I just saw the message you sent.
  • 。
    Cún kuǎn de lì xī yuè lái yuè dī le.
    The interest rate on deposits is getting lower and lower.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 息, 自 is nose and 心 is heart, showing breath or life passing through one's nose.

Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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