慑 (shè) — to intimidate, to awe, to deter
Definition
Bound form used inside set phrases (威慑, 震慑) meaning to intimidate or deter by awe. Almost never appears alone — pair it with 威 or 震.
bound form
to intimidateto aweto deter
Examples
- 。Qiáng dà de jūn duì kě yǐ wēi shè dí rén.A powerful army can intimidate the enemy.
- 。Tā de wēi yán zhèn shè zhù le suǒ yǒu rén.His dignity awed everyone.
- 。Zhè ge guó jiā de hé wǔ qì qǐ dào le wēi shè zuò yòng.This country's nuclear weapons serve a deterrent role.
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.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 懾; 慑 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
聶
聶niè懾
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 懾 pairs 心 (heart) with 聶 as a sound part; the simplified 慑 is a later shorthand.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.