奄 (yǎn) — (bound form, literary) suddenly

Definition

A literary bound form meaning 'suddenly' — always attached to a partner (e.g. 奄忽, 奄然) and never used alone. Carries a written, classical tone.

bound form

(bound form, literary) suddenly

Easily confused

奄。
Tā yǎn hū zhī jiān jiù xiāo shī le.
He disappeared suddenly.
奄。
Fēng shēng yǎn rán tíng zhǐ.
The sound of the wind suddenly stopped.
奄，。
yǎn Hū zhī jiān, tiān sè yǐ wǎn.
In an instant, the sky had already darkened.

Sound + meaning

六书liùshū

形声xíngshēng

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

盍盍hé

Sound part声符shēngfú

甲

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 奄, 盍 supplies the covering sense and 甲 supplies the sound.