息 (xī)

breath; news; interest (on an investment or loan); to cease; to stop;

Etymology

Depicts a breath of air going into the nose (自). The lines representing breath were later reanalyzed as 心 (heart).

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“息,喘也。从心,从自,自亦聲。”

Original meaning

breathe

Components