油然而生 (yóu rán ér shēng) — to arise spontaneously and naturally (of emotio…

Definition

Used for feelings or thoughts that well up on their own, without being forced — a spontaneous, natural rise (of emotion).

idiom

to arise spontaneously and naturally (of emotions, thoughts, or feelings)

，油然而生。
Tīng le tā de gù shi, gǎn dòng zhī xīn yóu rán ér shēng.
After hearing his story, a feeling of being moved arose spontaneously.
，油然而生。
Xiǎng dào guò qù de shí guāng, huái niàn zhī qíng yóu rán ér shēng.
Thinking of the past times, nostalgia arose spontaneously.
，油然而生。
Duì lǎo shī de guān xīn, gǎn jī zhī qíng yóu rán ér shēng.
Towards the teacher's care, gratitude arose spontaneously.

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.

氵由油

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

由

Same sound today

油 is built from 氵, a water part, and 由, which supplies the sound.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

肰

肰rán然rán

Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 而 is a picture of a beard.

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

生 shows 屮 (a bud) above 一 (the ground), drawing a sprout coming up from the earth.