Meaning
妒 means to feel jealousy or envy toward someone, typically because they possess something desirable that you lack. It carries a negative emotional connotation and often appears in literary or formal contexts, though it's commonly used in compound words in everyday speech.
Usage
妒 is rarely used alone in modern Mandarin. It almost always appears in compounds like 嫉妒 (jídù, jealousy) or 妒忌 (dùjì, to envy). When used independently, it sounds literary or classical. The emotion it describes can range from mild envy to bitter jealousy.
Examples
- 01她妒他的才华和成就。.She envies his talent and achievements.
- 02不要妒人之能，要学习他们的长处。, .Don't be jealous of others' abilities; learn from their strengths.
Common collocations
- 嫉妒心jealous heart; jealousy
- 妒火中烧consumed by jealousy (idiom)
Antonyms
Origin
The character 妒 contains the female radical 女 (nǚ) on the left, with 户 (hù, door/household) on the right as a phonetic component. Historically, jealousy was stereotypically associated with women in ancient Chinese society, which is reflected in the radical choice.