Origin

This character most likely combines the idea of sheep or fleece (the left side, related to wool or soft materials) with water flowing or dripping (the right side). The image of something desirable flowing away—like precious water or wool slipping through your fingers—captures the feeling of envying what you cannot have or seeing something desirable that belongs to someone else. Over time, this visual idea of loss or longing became associated with the emotions of envy and jealousy.

AI-generated (claude-haiku-4-5), not yet reviewed. Formation type (automated guess): Pictographic or simple.