谢xiè
Character evolution
谢
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Simplified · Today
繁体
Traditional Chinese
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Shuowen
谢 (traditional 謝) means to thank or decline; it is formed with the semantic radical 言 (speech) on the left and the phonetic component 射 on the right, together indicating the act of speaking in gratitude or apology. The character appears in oracle bone inscriptions, evidencing its early use in ancient China for expressing thanks or refusing. The choice of 射 as phonetic also carries the connotation of "letting go," which metaphorically extends to the meaning of gratitude or apology.
Pinyin
xiè· HSK 2