qiàn

deficient

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Components
兼 sound component

  Sound component

jiān

  

double

欠 meaning component

  Meaning component

qiàn

  

yawn, deficient

Evolution

歉 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
歉 Clerical script Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical script

Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
歉 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

qiàn

deficient, lacking, insufficient; to apologize; to regret; deficient

Most common words with 歉
Freq.
Word
Meaning

抱歉

to be sorry

道歉

to apologize

歉意

apology

to regret

致歉

to apologize