沴
How to Say
How to Write
Meaning: miasma
💡 Think 'lethal miasma' — the left water radical flows with poison, like a deadly fog.
Compounds
Character Story & Explanation
沴 (lì) originally referred to malignant miasma or noxious vapors believed to cause disease. In ancient Chinese medicine, it described harmful environmental qi. The character combines the water radical (氵) with 㐱 (zhěn), suggesting ‘flowing evil influence.’ Today, it is rarely used but appears in classical texts as a poetic term for pestilence or calamity.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
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