() — (bound form) to cherish, to value; (bound form) to spare, to grudge, to feel sorry for

Definition

惜 (xī) is a bound morpheme meaning 'to cherish/value' (珍惜, 爱惜) or 'to feel sorry/grudge' (可惜, 不惜). It never stands alone — pair it with a prefix to form a verb, often a literary tone.

bound form
(bound form) to cherishto value(bound form) to spareto grudgeto feel sorry for

Examples

  • Tā fēi cháng zhēn xī zhè fèn yǒu yì.
    He cherishes this friendship very much.
  • Zhè me wǎn le, kě xī nǐ míng tiān yào zǒu.
    It's so late, what a pity you have to leave tomorrow.
  • Wǒ men yīng gāi ài xī shí jiān.
    We should treasure time.

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