篤

The glyph denotes a sense of density, thickness, or intensity, manifesting in two primary semantic ranges:

• Ethical and Dispositional: Sincere, genuine, deep, or unwavering. It suggests a substantial conviction or weightiness of commitment. As an adverb, it indicates diligence, perseverance, or earnestness (focused application of effort).
• Pathological: Critical, severe, acute, or deep-seated illness (e.g., 篤疾).

• Modifier: Frequently precedes nouns or verbs.
• Predicate: Used as a predicate specifically when describing health or the onset of critical illness.

• Vs. 誠 (chéng): While 誠 denotes truthfulness or veracity, 篤 emphasizes the intensity and steadfastness of an internal state.
• Vs. 厚 (hòu): Both carry a sense of "thickness." However, 厚 typically refers to literal thickness or outward generosity/kindness, whereas 篤 is generally reserved for internal psychological states or biological conditions.

• Reading: Fanqie: 冬毒.
• Variant: Simplified variant 笃.