斟 zhēn to deliberate
to deliberate; to gauge; to pour wine or tea
How to remember 斟: 甚 considerably + 斗 fight = to deliberate. The brothers argue considerably over the last slice of cake, so before a fight starts, Mum stops to deliberate how to cut it fairly.
Component breakdown
斟 = 甚 considerably + 斗 fight
- 甚 considerably
- 其 this or that
- 𠃊 corner
- 八 eight
- 斗 fight
The brothers argue considerably over the last slice of cake, so before a fight starts, Mum stops to deliberate how to cut it fairly.
How it is used
- Literally to pour tea or wine - 给客人斟茶 (gěi kèrén zhēn chá) to pour tea for a guest.
- But you meet it almost only in 斟酌 (zhēnzhuó), to weigh/deliberate carefully (over wording, a decision) - the pouring image extended to measuring things out. Formal register.