习惯

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 习惯 (xíguàn) for "habit" is composed of two characters: 习 (xí) and 惯 (guàn). The character 习 (xí) means "to learn" or "to practice", while the character 惯 (guàn) means "to be accustomed to" or "to be used to". Together, the two characters 习惯 (xíguàn) convey the idea of a behavior or practice that has become habitual or ingrained through repeated practice or experience.The word 习惯 (xíguàn) has a long history in the Chinese language, dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD). It was first used in the sense of "to be accustomed to" or "to be used to" in the Eastern Han Dynasty dictionary Shuowen Jiezi (说文解字). The word 习惯 (xíguàn) was later used in the sense of "habit" in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD).The word 习惯 (xíguàn) is commonly used in modern Chinese to refer to a behavior or practice that has become habitual or ingrained through repeated practice or experience. It can also be used to refer to a custom or tradition that is widely practiced in a particular society or culture.