(jiǎn) — cocoon; callus

Definition

noun
cocooncallus
Measure word ·

Examples

  • Cán bǎo bao zài tǔ sī zuò jiǎn.
    The silkworm is spinning a cocoon.
  • Hú dié cóng jiǎn lǐ fēi chū lái le.
    The butterfly flew out of the cocoon.
  • Tā shǒu shàng yǒu hěn duō jiǎn.
    He has many calluses on his hands.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 繭; 茧 is its simplified writing.

  • silk
  • chónginsect
  • zhǐneedlework

The traditional form 繭 combines 糸 (silk), 虫 (insect), and 黹 (needlework); the simplified 茧 is a later shorthand.

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