姗 (shān) — (used in 姗姗) slowly, leisurely
Definition
姗 only appears as a bound form, reduplicated as 姗姗 to mean 'slowly, leisurely' — as in 姗姗来迟 ('tardy, arriving late'). It's a literary/archaic flavor word, not used alone.
bound form
(used in 姗姗) slowlyleisurely
Examples
- ，。Tā shān shān lái chí, dà jiā dōu děng jí le.She arrived slowly and late; everyone was getting impatient.
- 姗姗，。Wǔ zhě shān shān ér lái, guān zhòng ān jìng xià lái.The dancers came slowly, and the audience quieted down.
- 姗姗，。Tā shān shān ér xíng, zài xī yáng xià.She walked slowly in the sunset.
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.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 姍; 姗 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
刪
刪shān姍
Same sound today
The form 姍 pairs 女 (female) with 刪 as a sound part. This note is about 姍, not 姗.
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