伈伈睍睍
Chinese
| fearful | cautious | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| trad. (伈伈睍睍) | 伈伈 | 睍睍 | |
| simp. (伈伈𪾢𪾢) | 伈伈 | 𪾢𪾢 | |
| alternative forms | 伈伈俔俔／伈伈伣伣 | ||
Etymology
From Text for the Crocodiles (《祭鱷魚文 / 祭鳄鱼文》) by Han Yu (韓愈):
- 刺史雖駑弱，亦安肯為鱷魚低首下心，伈伈睍睍，為民吏羞，以偷活於此耶？ [MSC, trad.]
- Cìshǐ suī núruò, yì ān kěn wèi èyú dīshǒu xià xīn, xǐnxǐn xiànxiàn, wèi mín lì xiū, yǐ tōuhuó yú cǐ yē? [Pinyin]
- Although the prefect is feeble and old, do you think he is willing to bow his head and humble himself to a crocodile, and to be in constant fear? Is he willing to spend a miserable existence here, despised and flouted by the people?
刺史虽驽弱，亦安肯为鳄鱼低首下心，伈伈𪾢𪾢，为民吏羞，以偷活于此耶？ [MSC, simp.]
Pronunciation
- Mandarin
- (Pinyin): xǐnxǐnxiànxiàn
- (Zhuyin): ㄒㄧㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄢˋ
- Cantonese (Jyutping): sam2 sam2 jin5 jin5
- Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Hanyu Pinyin: xǐnxǐnxiànxiàn [Phonetic: xínxǐnxiànxiàn]
- Zhuyin: ㄒㄧㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄣˇ ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄢˋ
- Tongyong Pinyin: sǐnsǐnsiànsiàn
- Wade–Giles: hsin3-hsin3-hsien4-hsien4
- Yale: syǐn-syǐn-syàn-syàn
- Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shiinshiinshiannshiann
- Palladius: синьсиньсяньсянь (sinʹsinʹsjanʹsjanʹ)
- Sinological IPA (key): /ɕin²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɕin²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong–Macau)+
- Jyutping: sam2 sam2 jin5 jin5
- Yale: sám sám yíhn yíhn
- Cantonese Pinyin: sam2 sam2 jin5 jin5
- Guangdong Romanization: sem2 sem2 yin5 yin5
- Sinological IPA (key): /sɐm³⁵ sɐm³⁵ jiːn¹³ jiːn¹³/
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong–Macau)+
- Middle Chinese: simX simX henX henX
- Old Chinese
- (Zhengzhang): /*slɯmʔ slɯmʔ ɡeːnʔ ɡeːnʔ/
Idiom
伈伈睍睍
- (literary, ideophonic) to be timid and fearful; to be meek and submissive