怀
huái
bosom
At a glance · 怀

Listen

Audio is synthesized in your browser: Mandarin for the character and Shuowen text, native voices for every translation. No downloads.

Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

怀 Evolution of the glyph
  1. 怀 Object sketch
    Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
  2. 怀 Oracle bone
    Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
  3. 怀 Seal script
    Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
  4. 怀 Clerical script
    Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
  5. 怀 Regular script
    Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested:oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「怀」繁体「懷」从心褱声,小篆从心褱声,形声清晰。

What the sketch shows

怀 Object sketch

Origins & notes

「怀」本义为胸前、怀抱,引申怀念、怀藏、安抚。

Structure

从心、褱(huái)声,形声字,心表义类,褱表音,本为怀抱、思念。

At a glance

Pinyinhuái
Radical忄
Strokes7
UnicodeU+6000
Character type形声
Theme德行

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English bosom bosom, breast; carry in bosom
Français chérir / porter Chérir, porter. «孔怀兄弟» : l'affection fraternelle.
Español querer / llevar Querido, llevar. «孔怀兄弟»: el afecto fraterno.
العربية يحبّ / يحمل يحبّ، يحمل. «孔怀兄弟»: المودّة الأخوية.
Русский любить / носить Любить, носить. «孔怀兄弟»: братская привязанность.

Common words

  • 怀念huái niànmiss
  • 怀抱huái bàoembrace