圈 (juàn) — pen (for livestock), fold, sty
Definition
As a noun read juàn, 圈 means an enclosure for livestock — a pen, fold, or sty (猪圈, 牛圈). Distinct from 圈 juān 'to lock up' and from 关 'to shut'.
noun
pen (for livestock)foldsty
Measure word · 个
Examples
- 圈。Zhè zhī zhū bèi guān zài juàn lǐ.This pig is shut in the pen.
- 。Nóng mín měi tiān dǎ sǎo zhū juàn.The farmer cleans the pigpen every day.
- 圈。Zhè ge niú juàn néng yǎng shí tóu niú.This cow pen can raise ten cows.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
囗囗wéi
Sound part声符shēngfú
卷
卷juàn圈quān
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
圈 is made of the outer 囗, an enclosure shape, and the inner 卷, which gives the sound.
Appears in
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