燕 (yān) — (bound form) Yan, an ancient state; also used in place names such as Yanjing and Yanshan
Definition
Read yān here: it is a bound form naming the ancient Yan state and places like Yanjing (old Beijing) and Yanshan. Don't confuse with 燕 yàn 'swallow' (the bird).
bound form
Yanan ancient statealso used in place names such as Yanjing and Yanshan
Examples
- 燕。yān Guó shì zhōng guó gǔ dài de yí gè guó jiā.The Yan state was an ancient Chinese state.
- 燕。Běi jīng zài lì shǐ shàng yě jiào yān jīng.Beijing was historically also called Yanjing.
- 燕。yān Shān shān mài zài běi jīng běi bù.The Yan Mountains are in the northern part of Beijing.
Origin
Pictograph六书liùshū
象形xiàngxíngA drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.
燕 comes from a picture of a swallow.
Appears in
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