茜 (qiàn) — (used in transliteration) qian, often in female names
Definition
茜 (qiàn) is a bound character used only inside transliterated foreign or Western names — it is not a standalone word in modern Chinese.
bound form
(used in transliteration) qianoften in female names
Easily confused
Examples
- “茜”。Tā de yīng wén míng zì jiào "qiàn".Her English name is 'Qian'.
- “茜”。Zhè bù diàn yǐng de nǚ zhǔ jué jiào "xiǎo qiàn".The leading actress in this movie is called 'Xiaoqian'.
- “茜”。Nà wèi gē shǒu jiào "lín qiàn".That singer is called 'Lin Qian'.
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
艸艸cǎograss; plant
Sound part声符shēngfú
西
西xī茜⁰qiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The top 艸 shows the character is about a plant; the bottom 西 gives the sound.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.