晦

dark, unclear

晦 is composed of 日 (day, sun) and 每 (each). 日 represents time, while 每 conveys the idea of a woman bearing offspring as densely as sprouting grass, carrying the connotations of covering and obscuring. The original meaning of 晦 refers to the last day of the lunar month, a night when the moon is completely invisible and considered the darkest time of the month. Consequently, 晦 extended to convey the ideas of darkness, obscurity, and dimness.

Vocabulary of 晦

  • 晦氣 (unlucky)
  • 晦澀 (difficult to understand)
  • 隱晦 (obscurity)

Related Characters: