谒 (yè) — to pay a formal visit to (a superior, elder, or a site) in a respectful manner

Definition

A formal, written verb for paying a respectful visit to a superior, elder, or revered place (e.g. 谒见, 拜谒). Stronger and far more literary than the everyday 拜访 or 探望.

bound form
to pay a formal visit to (a superior, elder, or a site) in a respectful manner
Easily confused

Examples

  • 谒。
    Xīn rèn dà shǐ jiāng yú míng tiān yè jiàn zǒng tǒng.
    The new ambassador will have an audience with the president tomorrow.
  • ，谒。
    Měi nián qīng míng jié, xǔ duō shì mín dōu huì qù bài yè liè shì líng yuán.
    Every Qingming Festival, many citizens go to pay respects at the martyrs' cemetery.
  • 谒。
    Tā tè yì qián wǎng kǒng miào bài yè kǒng zǐ xiàng.
    He made a special trip to the Confucius Temple to pay respects to the statue of Confucius.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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 謁; 谒 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
曷
曷hé謁yè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 謁 pairs 言, tied to speech, with 曷 for the sound; this fits meanings like accuse, inform, or meet face-to-face. The simplified 谒 is a later shorthand.

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