Definition
恻 is a bound form (b.f.) — it never appears alone in modern Chinese. It carries the meaning of 'sadness' or 'sorrow' and is only found in literary or formal compounds, most commonly 恻隐 (cèyǐn, 'compassion, pity') and 凄恻 (qīcè, 'grief-stricken'). You will not use it as a standalone word; instead, learn it as part of these two-character expressions.
b.f.
sadsorrowful (bound form, used in literary compounds)
Examples
- 。Tā xīnzhōng shēng chū cè yǐn zhī xīn.A feeling of compassion arose in his heart.
- 恻。Nà shǒu shī dú lái lìng rén gǎndào qī cè.That poem reads with a sorrowful feeling.
- 恻，。cè yǐn zhī qíng, rén jiē yǒu zhī.Everyone has a sense of compassion.
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