胸 (xiōng) — chest, bosom, thorax; (figurative) heart, mind (as the seat of emotions and thoughts)
Definition
胸 is the literal, physical chest (the body part). Use 胸膛 for the same body-part meaning, often more vivid. 胸怀 and 怀 refer to the figurative chest as the seat of emotions and tolerance.
noun
chestbosomthorax(figurative) heartmind (as the seat of emotions and thoughts)
Measure word · 个
Easily confused
Examples
- ，。Tā xiōng bù shòu shāng le, xū yào mǎ shàng zhì liáo.His chest was injured and needs immediate treatment.
- 。Tā xiōng zhōng chōng mǎn le duì wèi lái de xī wàng.Her heart is full of hope for the future.
- 。Yùn dòng qián yào xiān huó dòng xiōng bù jī ròu.You should warm up your chest muscles before exercise.
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.
Sound part声符shēngfú
匈
匈xiōng胸xiōng
Same sound today
胸 adds 肉 (meat/flesh) to the original form 匈, which provides the sound.
Appears in
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