展 (zhǎn) — to spread out; to unfold; to open up; to exhibit; to display; to postpone; to delay
Definition
展 (zhǎn) means to spread out or open up (as in 展开 unfold, 展开 develop/expand), and also to exhibit or display (展览). At HSK 7, focus on the 'unfold, develop, expand' sense used in formal or written contexts.
verb
to spread outto unfoldto open upto exhibitto displayto postponeto delay
Examples
- 。Tā màn màn zhǎn kāi le nà zhāng gǔ lǎo de dì tú.He slowly unfolded that ancient map.
- 。Bó wù guǎn zhǎn chū le yì pī xīn chū tǔ de wén wù.The museum exhibited a batch of newly unearthed artifacts.
- ，。Gōng sī yè wù bú duàn zhǎn kāi, yǐ fù gài duō gè chéng shì.The company's business keeps expanding and now covers multiple cities.
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
𧝑
𧝑𧝑展zhǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
展 is built from 尸 and 𧝑. The 𧝑 part points to fine red silk clothes and also contains the idea of opening or extending.
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