谗 (chán): to slander

Meanings

他在老板面前谗害同事。

Tā zài lǎobǎn miànqián chán hài tóngshì.

He slandered his colleague in front of the boss.

忠臣被谗言所害。

Zhōngchén bèi chányán suǒ hài.

The loyal minister was ruined by slanderous words.

usage

谗 is written-style, common in 谗言 (slanderous words) and 谗害 (to harm someone by slander), often in historical narratives.

radical

讠 yán

speech; words

The speech radical, side form of 言, marks 谗 as a verb of speaking, here malicious slander.

phonetic

毚 chán

cunning hare

Supplies the sound chán and a faint sense of slyness, fitting cunning slander. The same phonetic also drives 馋.

谗 chán