娟 (juān) — beautiful (bound form, used in compound words)
Definition
娟 (juān) is a bound morph meaning 'graceful and beautiful' — it never stands alone and is almost always paired with 秀 or 丽, as in 娟秀 and 娟丽.
bound form
beautiful (bound form, used in compound words)
Examples
- 娟。Tā de zì jì juān xiù.Her handwriting is graceful and beautiful.
- 娟。Zhè duǒ huā kāi dé shí fēn juān lì.This flower blooms very beautifully.
- 婵娟。Chán juān shì gǔ diǎn wén xué zhōng cháng jiàn de cí yǔ.Chanjuan is a common term in classical literature.
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
肙
肙yuān娟juān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
娟 puts 女, meaning woman, beside 肙, which gives the sound.
Appears in
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