沈 (chén) — surname

Definition

noun
surname
Easily confused

Examples

  • 沈。
    Zhè wèi shì chén xiān sheng.
    This is Mr. Shen.
  • 沈。
    chén Lǎo shī jiào wǒ men lì shǐ.
    Teacher Shen teaches us history.
  • 沈。
    Xìng chén de rén hěn duō.
    There are many people with the surname Shen.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The original form 沈 showed 水 (water) and 羊 (sheep), with a sheep put into water as a sacrifice to a river god. It was later used to write the surname 沈.

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.