Definition
颐 is a literary bound form (b.f.) with two main senses: its original meaning 'cheek' or 'chin' (used in idioms like 颐指气使 'to order people about by facial expression'), and 'to nourish/care for' (as in 颐养天年 'to enjoy one's old age in comfort'). In classical texts it also names one of the Sixty-four Hexagrams, but this sense is rare for modern learners. 颐 commonly appears as part of place names (e.g., 颐和园 'the Summer Palace') and fixed expressions.
b.f.
cheekchin (literary/classical)to nourishto care for (literary, in compounds)
Examples
- ，。Tā zài gōngsī lǐ wèi gāo quán zhòng, chángcháng yí zhǐ qì shǐ.He holds a high position in the company and often bosses people around arrogantly.
- ，。Tuìxiū hòu, tā huí dào xiāngxià yí yǎng tiān nián.After retiring, he returned to the countryside to enjoy his old age in comfort.
- 颐。Míngtiān wǒmen qù yí Hé Yuán guàngguàng ba.Let's go to the Summer Palace for a stroll tomorrow.
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