唆

In moral and legal contexts, 唆 often carries a negative nuance — to lead others astray, to whisper persuasion, to stir up discord.

Phono-semantic compound:

口 (입 구) — semantic component, indicating speech, words, or verbal action.

夋 (천천히 걷는 모양 준) — phonetic component, giving the sound suō / sa and suggesting gradual or continuous motion.

Thus 口 + 夋 → 唆 — “speech that slowly leads another,” i.e., to entice, to incite, to urge through words.

In Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「唆，譖也。从口，夋聲。」

“唆 means to slander or instigate through words; composed of 口 and phonetic 夋.”

Here, 譖 (to slander or instigate) and 唆 are semantically linked — both refer to malicious or manipulative speech.

唆使 (사사) — to instigate; to incite or induce someone to act

教唆 (교사) — to abet; to incite or prompt wrongdoing (legal term: 교사범, “instigator”)

唆動 (사동) — to stir up; to provoke (as in “to agitate a crowd”)

挑唆 (도사) — to provoke; to incite hostility or conflict

唆誘 (사유) — to lure or tempt by persuasion

Kangxi Dictionary (康熙字典, vol. 189):

「唆，教也，譖也，挑也。」

“唆 means to teach (in a misleading way), to slander, to provoke.”

From classical texts to modern usage in law and ethics, 唆 embodies the idea that words can move others to action — for good or ill — and that speech itself carries the power to shape behavior.

Book of Han (漢書 · 五行志):

「巧言唆亂。」

“Cunning words incite disorder” — 唆 used to describe verbal manipulation causing chaos.

Later Han (後漢書 · 張衡傳):

「浮華之徒，多相唆亂。」

“The frivolous and boastful often incite each other to confusion.”

Lüshi Chunqiu (呂氏春秋 · 侈樂篇):

「巧言令色，以唆人心。」

“Clever words and pleasing countenance seduce men’s hearts” — 唆 here means to entice or corrupt through speech.

These examples illustrate how 唆 signifies verbal instigation — persuasion used not for guidance but for manipulation or disruption.

Semantic evolution:

Literal: to persuade or urge by speaking.

Moral/Legal: to instigate wrongdoing (e.g., 教唆罪, “crime of incitement”).

Metaphorical: to stir emotions, provoke discord, or subtly manipulate others.