讳 (huì) — taboo; to avoid as taboo
Definition
讳 (huì) is a bound literary form meaning 'to treat as taboo' and almost always appears in compounds like 讳言 or 讳莫如深; in modern Chinese the everyday verb for 'avoid mentioning' is 回避.
bound form
tabooto avoid as taboo
Easily confused
- 伟wěilook-alike(bound form) great, imposing, magnificent
- 会huìsound-alikecan, be able to (know how to); be likely to, will
- 纬wěilook-alikelatitude (bound form, used in compounds)
- 会huìsound-alikecan; to know how to (a learned skill)
- 汇huìsound-aliketo remit (money)
- 惠huìsound-alike(bound form) kindness, favor, benefit; kind, gracious
Examples
- ，。Zài zhōng guó wén huà zhōng, rén men bì huì sǐ wáng.In Chinese culture, people avoid mentioning death.
- 讳，。Tā huì yán zì jǐ de guò qù, cóng bù tí qǐ.He avoids mentioning his past and never brings it up.
- 讳，。Zhè ge huà tí dà jiā huì mò rú shēn, méi rén yuàn yì tǎo lùn.This topic is kept deeply secret; no one is willing to discuss it.
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 諱; 讳 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
韋
韋wéi諱huì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 諱 pairs 言 with 韋: 言 shows the meaning, and 韋 gives the sound.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.