(xiè) — to thank; to wither (of flowers, leaves, etc.); to decline (a request, invitation, etc.) politely

Definition

谢 covers several polite or natural-process actions: to thank, to decline politely (as in 谢绝), and the natural withering of flowers/leaves. In modern spoken Chinese, the thank sense is most common.

verb
to thankto wither (of flowers, leaves, etc.)to decline (a request, invitation, etc.) politely

Examples

  • Wǒ dài biǎo quán jiā gǎn xiè nín.
    On behalf of the whole family, I thank you.
  • Qiū tiān dào le, huā dū xiè le.
    Autumn has come, and the flowers have all withered.
  • Tā xiè jué le duì fāng de yāo qǐng.
    He politely declined the other party's invitation.

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 謝; 谢 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
yánword; speech
Sound part声符shēngfú
shèxiè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 謝 pairs 言 (word; speech) with 射, which gives the sound. The simplified 谢 is a written form of this character.

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