研 (yán) — to research, to study (in academic or professional contexts); to grind, to pestle (into powder)
Definition
研 (yán) is a bound verb that almost always needs a suffix: 研 means 'grind' (with 磨 yán mò — ink, medicine) and 'research/study' (研究, 研讨). On its own it sounds incomplete.
verb
to researchto study (in academic or professional contexts)to grindto pestle (into powder)
Examples
- 。Tā zhèng zài yán jiū zhè ge kè tí.He is researching this topic.
- 研。Tā yán mò xiě zì.He grinds ink to write characters.
- 。Wǒ men měi zhōu yán tǎo yí cì.We hold a seminar once a week.
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.
Sound part声符shēngfú
幵
幵jiān研yán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
In 研, the left part 石 is a stone-related component, and the right part 幵 gives the sound.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.