阡 (qiān) — (bound form) north-south path between fields (used in 阡陌)
Definition
阡 (qiān) is a bound form used only in the literary set phrase 阡陌, where it pairs with 陌 to mean 'crisscrossing field paths.' It almost never appears alone.
bound form
north-south path between fields (used in 阡陌)
Easily confused
- 吁xūlook-alike(bound form) to appeal; to plead
- 签qiānsound-aliketo sign (one's name on a document)
- 纤qiànlook-alike(bound form) towline, rope for pulling a boat
- 签qiānsound-aliketo sign (one's name); to write brief comments on a document
- 歼jiānlook-alike(bound form) to annihilate; to destroy
- 千qiānsound-alikethousand
Examples
- 阡。Zhè piàn tián dì shàng yǒu zòng héng de qiān mò.This field has crisscrossing paths.
- 阡。Gǔ dài nóng mín tōng guò qiān mò lái wǎng yú tián dì zhī jiān.Ancient farmers traveled between fields via the paths.
- 阡。Cūn zi lǐ de qiān mò lián jiē zhe měi yí kuài tián.The paths in the village connect every field.
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.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
阜阜fùsoil mountain
阡 pairs 阜, a soil mountain, with 千, which gives the sound.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.