郇 (huán) — name of an ancient state (during the Zhou dynasty); surname (rare)

Definition

郇 (Huán) is an obscure proper noun — the name of a small Zhou-era state, and occasionally a rare surname. Learners will meet it mainly in classical history texts; it is not used in everyday speech.

noun
name of an ancient state (during the Zhou dynasty)surname (rare)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 郇。
    huán Shì yí gè gǔ dài guó jiā de míng zì.
    ∼ is the name of an ancient state.
  • 郇，。
    Zhè ge xìng shì shì huán, hěn shǎo jiàn.
    This surname is ∼, very rare.
  • 郇。
    Tā zài yán jiū huán guó de lì shǐ.
    He is researching the history of the ∼ state.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
邑邑yìstate; city
Sound part声符shēngfú
旬
旬xún郇Xún
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

郇 is built from 旬, giving its sound, and 邑, meaning state or city.

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