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纠结 (jiū jié) — (of thoughts or feelings) to be tangled up; conflicted; in a dilemma; (literally) to intertwine; to twist together

Definition

纠结 means feeling mentally tangled or conflicted, unable to choose between options. Usually used for emotional or decisional dilemma, not for people joining forces.

verb
(of thoughts or feelings) to be tangled upconflictedin a dilemma(literally) to intertwineto twist together

Examples

  • 纠结，。
    Tā jiū jié le bàn tiān, hái shì ná bú dìng zhǔ yì.
    She agonized for a long time and still couldn't make up her mind.
  • 纠结，。
    Wǒ yì zhí zài jiū jié zhè ge wèn tí, méi yǒu dá àn.
    I've been wrestling with this problem and have no answer.
  • 纠结，。
    Liǎng gēn shéng zi jiū jié zài yì qǐ, jiě bù kāi.
    The two ropes are twisted together and can't be untied.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

纠jiūtwist
结jiéknot

纠 (twist) and 结 (knot) together describe things intertwining, hence tangled feelings.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 糾; 纠 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
丩
丩jiū糾jiū
Same sound today

In the traditional form 糾, 糸 (silk) was added to 丩, which already stood for the word. The simplified 纠 is a shorthand.

Open 纠 →

Most 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 結; 结 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
吉
吉jí結jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 結 pairs 糸 with 吉; 吉 gives the sound, and 糸 relates to the meaning. The simplified 结 is a later shorthand.

Open 结 →
Appears in
Emotions & Feelings

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