献 (xiàn) — to offer, to present (with respect, e.g. flowers, gifts, opinion); to dedicate, to devote (one's life, oneself, to a cause); to donate (blood, time, resources)
Definition
献 (xiàn) is a formal/literary verb for offering or devoting something (life, blood, gifts) to a cause or recipient. Shares 'devote' with 奉献 (more literary) and 贡献 (used for tangible contribution); 捐赠 specifically means monetary/material donation.
verb
to offerto present (with respect, e.g. flowers, gifts, opinion)to dedicateto devote (one's life, oneself, to a cause)to donate (blood, time, resources)
Examples
- 。Tā bǎ zì jǐ de shōu cáng pǐn xiàn gěi le bó wù guǎn.He donated his collection to the museum.
- 。Zhè wèi kē xué jiā bǎ yì shēng xiàn gěi le kē xué yán jiū.This scientist devoted his whole life to scientific research.
- 献，。Qǐng nǐ xiàn jì xiàn cè, bāng wǒ men jiě jué wèn tí.Please offer suggestions to help us solve the problem.
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.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 獻; 献 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
鬳
鬳yàn獻xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 獻 combines 鬳, which gives the sound, with 犬, a dog. The simplified 献 is a later shorthand.
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