feel anguish

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Components
忄 meaning component

  Meaning component

xinxīn

  

heart

is a component form of .

則 sound component

  Sound component

  

rule

Evolution

惻 Seal script Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal script

Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
惻 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
惻 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
惻 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

() 

feel anguish, feel compassion; sorrowful

Most common words with 惻
Freq.
Word
Meaning

sorrowful

恻隐之心

compassion

缠绵悱恻

very sentimental

恻隐

compassion

凄恻

heartbroken