惧色 (jù sè) — a look of fear; fearful expression

Definition

noun

a look of fearfearful expression

惧色。
Tā liǎn shàng lù chū yì sī jù sè.
A trace of fear showed on his face.
，惧色。
Miàn duì wēi xiǎn, tā háo wú jù sè.
Facing danger, she showed no sign of fear.
惧色。
Tā de jù sè ràng suǒ yǒu rén dōu gǎn dào bù ān.
His fearful expression made everyone feel uneasy.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

色sèexpression

惧 gives fear and 色 gives an expression, so the word is a look of fear.

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.

忄具惧

Meaning part形符xíngfú

忄Written in full as心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

具

Same sound today

In 惧, the left part is 忄, the heart, and the right part 具 gives the sound.

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

色 pairs 爪 (a hand) with 卩 (a kneeling person), showing a hand pressing down on the kneeling person.