戁 (nǎn) - To fear & to be in awe

戁Tone 3

nǎn ｜ 23 strokes ｜ radical:

楠念

戁 · nǎn

To fear;

to be in awe;

to dread;

to be apprehensive;

respectful fear.

To fearto be in aweto dread

Usage highlights

To fear and dreadTo be afraid and apprehensiveRespectful fearTo be in aweFeeling of dreadTo tremble with fear

Synonyms

  • 惧— to fear; to dread
  • 畏— to fear; to stand in awe
  • 怕— to fear; to be afraid

Antonyms

  • 勇— brave; courageous
  • 敢— daring; bold

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He felt great awe before the emperor (对皇帝十分戁惧).
  • The villagers were fearful of the approaching storm (对暴风雨感到戁怕).
  • She showed reverent fear towards her strict teacher (对严厉的老师表现出戁敬).

Collocations

  • To fear and dread(戁惧)
  • To be afraid and apprehensive(戁怕)
  • Respectful fear(戁敬)
  • To be in awe(戁畏)
  • Feeling of dread(戁心)
  • To tremble with fear(戁栗)

Idioms

  • To stand in awe and reverence(肃然戁立)
  • Trembling with fear and trepidation(战战戁戁)
  • With respectful fear and caution(戒慎戁惧)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • This character combines 'heart/mind' (心) with 'difficult/hardship' (難), representing the psychological state of fear or apprehension in the face of difficulty.
  • In classical texts, 戁 often conveys a sense of reverential fear or awe, particularly in contexts involving authority figures, deities, or significant challenges.
  • The character is relatively rare in modern usage but appears in classical Chinese literature and philosophical texts.

FAQ