滕 (téng) — (historical) name of a Zhou-dynasty state; (surname) Teng

Definition

Téng is mainly seen today as a Chinese surname. It also names an ancient Zhou-dynasty state, a historical reference learners will meet in classical texts rather than daily life.

noun
(historical) name of a Zhou-dynasty state(surname) Teng
Easily confused

Examples

  • 滕。
    téng Shì yí gè gǔ lǎo de xìng shì.
    Teng is an ancient surname.
  • 滕。
    téng Guó zài zhōu cháo shí qī cún zài.
    The state of Teng existed during the Zhou dynasty.
  • 滕，。
    Tā xìng téng, míng zi jīng.
    His surname is Teng, and his given name is Zijing.

Origin

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
朕
朕zhèn滕Téng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

滕 is made of 水 (water) and 朕, which gives the sound.

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