釁 (xìn) - To quarrel & to dispute

釁Tone 4

xìn ｜ 26 strokes ｜ radical:

信嫣

釁 · xìn

To quarrel;

to dispute;

a crack;

a rift;

a flaw;

a sign;

an omen;

in ancient times, a blood sacrifice where animal blood was smeared on objects to consecrate them.

To quarrelto disputea crack

Usage highlights

To start a quarrelTo seek a quarrelA flaw or crackA blood sacrificeAn ominous signTo smear blood

Synonyms

  • 爭— to dispute; to argue
  • 隙— crack; rift; grudge
  • 瑕— flaw; defect

Antonyms

  • 和— harmony; peace
  • 睦— harmonious; friendly

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • They had a quarrel over trivial matters (因小事而起釁).
  • There is a crack in this vessel (器皿有釁).
  • The ritual involved smearing blood (血釁之礼).
  • This is an ominous sign (不祥之釁).

Collocations

  • To start a quarrel(啟釁)
  • To seek a quarrel(尋釁)
  • A flaw or crack(瑕釁)
  • A blood sacrifice(血釁)
  • An ominous sign(釁兆)
  • To smear blood(釁鼓)

Idioms

  • To watch for an opportunity to start trouble(觀釁而動)
  • To take advantage of a crack or flaw(因釁乘隙)
  • To start a quarrel and provoke a dispute(啟釁構怨)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient Chinese rituals, '釁' referred to the practice of smearing the blood of a sacrificial animal on newly cast bells, drums, or other important objects to consecrate them.
  • The character's structure, incorporating '釁' (signifying the vessel) and '分' (to divide), reflects the act of dividing or cracking the sacrificial vessel.
  • Over time, its meaning extended from physical cracks and ritual blood-smearing to metaphorical flaws, quarrels, and ominous signs.

FAQ