演 (yǎn) — to perform, to act (in a play, movie, etc.); to develop, to evolve (often in compounds like 演变)
Definition
演 (yǎn) covers two senses: performing (a role, show, or piece — 演出/演奏/扮演 are more specific compounds) and developing/evolving (as in 演变).
verb
to performto act (in a play, movie, etc.)to developto evolve (often in compounds like 演变)
Easily confused
Examples
- 演，。Tā yǎn le èr shí nián de xì, jīng yàn hěn fēng fù.He has been acting for twenty years and has a lot of experience.
- 演。Míng tiān wǒ men bān yào yǎn yí gè xiǎo jié mù.Tomorrow our class is going to perform a little show.
- 演。Zhè bù diàn yǐng lǐ tā yǎn dé hěn hǎo.She performed very well in this movie.
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
寅
寅yín演yǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
演 pairs 氵 (water) with 寅, which gives the sound yín.
Appears in
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