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箴言 (zhēn yán) — admonition; maxim (usually a short, cautionary saying)

Definition

A formal, written term for a short admonitory saying or maxim, typically with a moral or cautionary tone. Distinct from 警句 (jǐngjù), which highlights a clever or striking epigram without the warning flavor.

noun
admonitionmaxim (usually a short, cautionary saying)
Measure word · 句

Examples

  • 箴言。
    Zhè piān gǔ wén zhōng bāo hán le xǔ duō yǒu yì de zhēn yán.
    This classical essay contains many beneficial maxims.
  • 箴言。
    Yé ye cháng bǎ tā de zhēn yán guà zài zuǐ biān.
    Grandpa often has his admonitions on his lips.
  • 箴言。
    Nǐ dú de zhè běn shū jì lù le gǔ rén de zhēn yán.
    The book you're reading records the precepts of the ancients.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

箴zhēnadmonish
言yánwords

箴 carries the idea of cautioning, and 言 is words, so the word means a cautionary saying.

Characters in this word

Most 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
𥫗Written in full as竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
咸
咸xián箴zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

箴 pairs 𥫗 (bamboo) with 咸 giving the sound; the form originally shows a bamboo needle or probe.

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The early form of 言 shows an opening and a mark indicating a location; the location is not described as the source of speech.

Open 言 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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