xī

歙

Character · Verb

inhale; breathe in (literary)

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

1 sense · 2 examples
1.

verb

to inhale; to draw in breath

literary

Literary or archaic usage. Rarely used in modern spoken Chinese except in classical texts or set phrases describing breathing patterns.

Xī翕
zhāng张
zhī之
jiān间
 ，
qì气
xī息
xī歙
dòng动
 ，
sì似
zài在
xī吸
nà纳
tiān天
dì地
jīng精
huá华
 。

Between opening and closing, the breath moved with a drawing motion, as if inhaling the essence of heaven and earth.

Gǔ古
rén人
rèn认
wéi为
 ，
xī歙
qì气
yǎng养
shén神
 ，
hū呼
qì气
xiè泄
zhuó浊
 。

The ancients believed that inhaling nourishes the spirit, while exhaling releases turbid air.