麝 (shè) — musk deer; musk (the substance)
Definition
Refers to the musk deer itself (the animal) or to musk, the strong-smelling substance taken from it and used in perfume and traditional Chinese medicine.
noun
musk deermusk (the substance)
Measure word · 只
Easily confused
- 射shèsound-aliketo shoot (an arrow, bullet, etc.)
- 设shèsound-aliketo set up, to establish
- 社shèsound-alike(bound form) society, organization, agency (used in many compounds)
- 摄shèsound-alike(bound form) to take a photograph; to shoot (a film)
- 涉shèsound-alike(bound form) to wade or ford (as in 涉水, 跋涉)
- 赦shèsound-aliketo pardon, to remit (punishment)
Examples
- 麝。shè Shì yì zhǒng zhēn guì de yě shēng dòng wù.The musk deer is a precious wild animal.
- 。shè Xiāng zài zhōng yào lǐ hěn cháng yòng.Musk is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine.
- 。Zhè zhǒng xiāng shuǐ lǐ jiā le shǎo liàng shè xiāng.A small amount of musk has been added to this perfume.
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.
麝 is made from 鹿 and 射. 鹿 relates to the character's meaning, and 射 gives its sound.
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