(yīng) - to touch & to disturb

Tone 1

yīng | 20 strokes | radical:

· yīng

to touch;

to disturb;

to offend;

to come into conflict with;

to entangle.

to touchto disturbto offend

Usage highlights

to offend the powerfulto come into conflictto disturb the sleepingto entangle with vinesto touch a nerveto provoke a reaction

Synonyms

  • to touch; to contact
  • to offend; to violate
  • to disturb; to harass

Antonyms

  • to avoid; to evade
  • to follow; to comply with

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Don't disturb the sleeping lion (攖其鋒).
  • The two armies came into conflict (兩軍相攖).
  • He offended the powerful (攖權貴).
  • The vines entangled the tree (藤蔓攖樹).

Collocations

  • to offend the powerful(攖怒)
  • to come into conflict(相攖)
  • to disturb the sleeping(攖其鋒)
  • to entangle with vines(攖蔓)
  • to touch a nerve(攖心)
  • to provoke a reaction(攖動)

Idioms

  • To provoke a sleeping tiger(攖睡虎之怒)
  • To offend the powerful and bring disaster(攖鱗獲咎)
  • To disturb the peace(攖寧)
  • To entangle in a dispute(攖紛)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often used in classical Chinese and literary contexts to describe conflict or transgression.
  • In Daoist philosophy, it can imply disturbing the natural state or harmony.
  • The character is relatively rare in modern usage but appears in historical texts and idioms.

FAQ