Chinese Character: 辜
1. Character Basics
Radical: 辛/xīn (bitter, pain, toil)
Stroke Count: 12
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Gū (First tone)
3. Meaning
Core Meaning: Guilt; crime; fault; to wrong; to betray; to辜负
The character 辜 primarily conveys the concept of guilt, fault, or betrayal. It is often used to express the idea of letting someone down or failing to live up to expectations.
4. Common Words
- 辜负 (gūfù) - To let down; to betray; to fail to live up to
我不能辜负你的期望。(Wǒ bùnéng gūfù nǐ de qīwàng.) - I can't let down your expectations.
- 无辜 (wúgū) - Innocent; blameless
他是无辜的，我们需要帮他洗清罪名。(Tā shì wúgū de, wǒmen xūyào bāng tā xǐqīng zuìmíng.) - He is innocent; we need to clear his name.
- 罪辜 (zuìgū) - Guilt; sin; offense
承认自己的罪辜是改正错误的第一步。(Chéngrèn zìjǐ de zuìgū shì gǎizhèng cuòwù de dì yī bù.) - Admitting one's guilt is the first step to correcting mistakes.
- 辜恩 (gū'ēn) - To be ungrateful; to betray kindness
辜恩负义的人最终会受到惩罚。(Gū'ēn fùyì de rén zuìzhōng huì shòudào chéngfá.) - Ungrateful people will eventually be punished.
- 辜罪 (gūzuì) - Guilt; sin
他无法摆脱内心的辜罪感。(Tā wúfǎ bǎituō nèixīn de gūzuìgǎn.) - He cannot get rid of the sense of guilt in his heart.
5. Grammar & Usage
Usage as a Noun: When used as a noun, 辜 means "guilt" or "fault."
他承认了自己的辜。(Tā chéngrènle zìjǐ de gū.) - He admitted his guilt.
Usage in Compounds: 辜 is most commonly used in compound words, especially 辜负 (gūfù), which is a verb meaning "to let down" or "to betray."
不要辜负父母的期望。(Bùyào gūfù fùmǔ de qīwàng.) - Don't let down your parents' expectations.
Common Structures:
- 辜负 + [person/expectation/trust]: To let down someone or fail to live up to something
- 无辜的 + [person/party]: Innocent person/party
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, the concept of 辜 carries significant moral weight. It reflects the traditional values of responsibility, gratitude, and accountability. The compound 辜负 is particularly important in social relationships, emphasizing the importance of honoring commitments and not betraying trust.
Historically, 辜 was often used in legal and moral contexts to denote guilt or fault. In modern usage, it remains a powerful word that conveys a deep sense of moral failing when one lets others down or betrays their trust.
7. Example Sentence
Example 1:
他不想辜负老师的信任。
(Tā bùxiǎng gūfù lǎoshī de xìnrèn.)
He doesn't want to betray the teacher's trust.
Example 2:
这些无辜的人不应该受到惩罚。
(Zhèxiē wúgū de rén bù yīnggāi shòudào chéngfá.)
These innocent people shouldn't be punished.
Example 3:
承认辜是勇敢的表现。
(Chéngrèn gū shì yǒnggǎn de biǎoxiàn.)
Admitting guilt is a sign of courage.
8. Memory Tips
1. Break down the character: 辜 is composed of 古 (gǔ, ancient) on top and 辛 (xīn, bitter/pain) below. You can remember it as "ancient bitterness" or "ancient pain," which relates to the concept of guilt or fault.
2. Associate with common words: Focus on memorizing the compound 辜负 (gūfù), as it is the most commonly used form of this character.
3. Image association: Imagine someone feeling guilty (辜) for letting down (辜负) a friend, with a sad expression on their face.
4. Practice writing: Write the character multiple times, paying attention to the stroke order. This will help you remember both the form and meaning of 辜.