闪 (shǎn) — to dodge, to duck out of the way; to flash, to appear suddenly (of light, lightning, or a thought); to sprain, to pull a muscle
Definition
闪 covers three distinct senses: dodging a blow, a sudden flash of light/thought, and spraining a muscle. For dodging, 躲 means to hide or get out of the way more generally; 闪 emphasizes a quick, sudden side-step.
verb
to dodgeto duck out of the wayto flashto appear suddenly (of light, lightning, or a thought)to sprainto pull a muscle
Examples
- 闪，。Tā shǎn dào yì biān, ràng chē guò qù.He dodged to the side to let the car pass.
- 闪。Yí dào shǎn diàn shǎn guò tiān kōng.A flash of lightning streaked across the sky.
- 闪。Tā bān zhòng wù shí shǎn le yāo.He sprained his back while lifting something heavy.
Origin
Compound ideograph六书liùshū
会意huìyìTwo or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 閃; 闪 is its simplified writing.
- 門門méngate
- 人人rénperson
In the traditional 閃, 人 (person) appears inside 門 (gate), showing a person running through a gate. The simplified 闪 is a later shorthand.
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