翰 (hàn) — writing brush; pen; literary writing (bound form)
Definition
翰 is a literary bound form meaning 'writing brush' or 'pen', used almost only in set compounds like 翰墨 (calligraphy) and 华翰 (your letter). Never used alone — always paired with another character.
bound form
writing brushpenliterary writing (bound form)
Examples
- 翰。Tā céng jīng zài hàn lín gōng zuò guò.He once worked at the Hanlin Academy.
- 翰。Zhè fú hàn mò zuò pǐn shì tā zuì dé yì de yì fú.This piece of calligraphy is his most proud work.
- 翰。Wǒ zuó tiān shōu dào le tā de yì fēng huá hàn.Yesterday I received a letter from him.
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
倝
倝gàn翰hàn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
翰 pairs 倝, which gives the sound, with 羽, which shows a feather.
Appears in
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