肃穆 (sù mù) — solemn and reverent; dignified and quiet

Definition

Describes a solemn, dignified, and quietly respectful atmosphere — typical of memorial services, temples, or cemeteries. It blends solemnity with reverence, stronger and more ceremonial than plain 安静.

adjective
solemn and reverentdignified and quiet

Examples

  • 肃穆。
    Zhuī dào huì de xiàn chǎng qì fen shí fēn sù mù.
    The atmosphere at the memorial service was very solemn and reverent.
  • ，肃穆。
    Líng yuán lǐ sōng bǎi cāng cuì, xiǎn de gé wài sù mù.
    The cemetery, with its verdant pine and cypress trees, seemed especially solemn.
  • 肃穆。
    Zhè zuò gǔ sì jiàn zhù qún gěi rén yì zhǒng zhuāng zhòng sù mù de gǎn jué.
    This ancient temple complex gives people a feeling of dignity and solemnity.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

肃sùsolemn; respectful
穆mùreverent; solemn

肃 and 穆 both convey solemn reverence, together describing a quiet, dignified atmosphere.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 肅; 肃 is its simplified writing.

  • 𦘒𦘒𦘒
  • 𣶒𣶒𣶒

The traditional form 肅 is made of 𦘒 and 𣶒, whose picture is unclear; one old explanation sees a person sweeping or walking with a staff near an abyss, trembling in fear. The simplified 肃 is a later shorthand.

Open 肃 →

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
禾禾hégrain
Sound part声符shēngfú
㣎
㣎㣎穆mù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

穆 is built from 禾, grain, with 㣎 added for its sound, giving a picture of standing grain.

Open 穆 →

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