How to Write 忑 (tè) — Meaning “Unsettled (part of 'nervous')”

Picture your heart (心) suddenly jumping upward (上) because you are scared or nervous. This image directly ties to the character's meaning of being unsettled, and it also helps you remember the character's shape.

First write the top part 上 with three strokes: horizontal, vertical, horizontal. Then write the bottom part 心 with four strokes: left dot, hook in the middle, top dot, right dot. Make sure the top part is slightly narrower than the bottom part, and keep the vertical stroke of 上 centered over the heart.

必 (bì) means 'must' and has a heart with a diagonal stroke through it, while 忌 (jì) means 'avoid' or 'jealous' and has 己 (self) above the heart. In contrast, 忑 has 上 (up) above the heart and only appears in words meaning nervous, never alone.

You will almost never see 忑 by itself; it is always part of the word 忐忑 (tǎn tè) or 忐忑不安 (tǎn tè bù ān), meaning 'nervous' or 'restless'. For example, people say '他感到很忐忑' (tā gǎndào hěn tǎn tè) to express feeling uneasy before a big event.

Common words containing 忑 include: 忐忑 (tǎn tè) — Nervous / uneasy; 忐忑不安 (tǎn tè bù ān) — Restless / on tenterhooks; 忑忑 (tè tè) — Nervous / uneasy.