惜

xī
verb #17,142

Meanings

  1. 1 to cherish
  2. 2 to pity
  3. 3 to spare

Examples

HSK 3
Tài kěxī le!
What a pity!
HSK 5
Wǒmen yào zhēnxī shíjiān.
We should cherish our time.

Tips

usage
Common in 珍惜 (zhēnxī, to treasure) and 可惜 (kěxī, what a pity).

Components

radical
忄 xīn
heart
Heart radical on the left - side form of 心, three strokes preserving the side of the chest. Carries the meaning of 惜: cherishing, treasuring, and feeling sorry-over are all matters of the heart. Sits with 怀 long-for, 怜 pity, 慎 careful, 愧 ashamed - the broad inventory of feelings written with the upright heart marker.
phonetic
昔 xī
former times; past
Right side 昔 supplies the sound directly - same xī with no shift. 昔 originally pictured stacked flood-waters with the sun, meaning 'former times, days of old', and that flavour of looking back fondly faintly reinforces the meaning of cherishing what is precious. Same phonetic in 借 borrow, 错 wrong, 蜡 wax - all xī or xī-adjacent readings.

Stroke Order

惜 xī