直觉
zhí jué · HSK 7
intuition
💡 直觉 = 直 (direct) + 觉 (sense) — a direct sense, no reasoning needed
直 means straight or direct; 觉 means to sense or feel. Intuition is the feeling that arrives directly, skipping the step-by-step thinking.
直 — 十 ten + 目 eye + 乚 hidden line
Originally depicted an eye (目) looking straight along a vertical line, suggesting a direct, unswerving gaze. The form combines 目 'eye' with strokes indicating straightness. From this came the meanings 'straight,' 'upright,' and by extension 'honest' or 'direct.'
觉 — see 见 + simplified 學 top 𭕄
觉 (traditional 覺) combines 學 (to learn, simplified to 𭕄) on top with 見 (to see) below, suggesting 'to perceive through learning.' Originally meaning 'to wake up' or 'become aware,' it extended to 'feel,' 'sense,' and 'sleep' (as in 睡觉). Read jué for awareness, jiào for sleep.