Hanzi 1 Flashcards
的
的 ¹de* {A} s.p.
①(of subordination) | wọ̌ mǎi ∼ shū 我买∼书 the book I bought
②(noun-forming, like English -er) | kānmén ∼ 看门∼ doorkeeper ◆cons. (shì) A ∼ action emphasizing A | Wǒ shì zuótiān mǎi ∼. 我是昨天买∼。 It was yesterday that I bought it. | Wọ̌ xiǎng (shì) bụ̀ huì xiàyǔ ∼. 我想(是)不会下雨∼。 I think it’s unlikely to rain. ◆cons.
①〈coll.〉 by | Zhè jiān wūzi shì wụ̌ mǐ ∼ liù mǐ, hé sānshí píngfāng mǐ. 这间屋子是五米∼六米, 合三十平方米。 This room is 5 x 6 meters, or 30 square meters.
②〈topo.〉 plus | Wǔ ge ∼ liù ge, yị̄gòng shíyī ge. 五个∼六个, 一共十一个。 Five plus six is eleven.
的 is the most commonly used Chinese character. It has three pronunciations: de, dì, and dí. 的 de is a grammatical particle. 的 dì means ‘bull’s-eye’ or ‘target’. 的 is pronounced dí only in the word 的确 díquè ‘precise’.
In ancient times 的 meant 'white'. Therefore 白 bái 'white' is a component in 的 (white: bright: clear: precise: bull's-eye). 勺 sháo ('spoon') is phonetic: ancient 勺 *tsiak (modern sháo) sounded like ancient 的 *tiek (modern dì).
一
一 [yī] one; 一定 certain; 一样 same; 一些 some
一 ¹yī* {A} num.
①one; 1
②once | kě ∼ bùkě èr. 可∼不可二。 Once is forgivable, not twice.
◆b.f. ①each; per | ∼ zhuō bā rén ∼桌八人 eight people per table
②whole; all; throughout | Wǒ ∼ tiān dōu bụ̀ zài jiā. 我∼天都不在家。 I won’t be at home all day.
③single; alone
④same | yìjian bù ∼ 意见不∼ opinions differ
◆adv. ①as soon as | tiānqì ∼ lěng 天气∼冷 as soon as the weather turns cold
②a little | kàn∼kàn 看∼看 take a look
③“empty” adverb in four-syllable expressions | wèizhī∼zhèn 为之∼振 be buoyed up by it
④also; otherwise | ∼ míng ∼名 be also known as
◆cons. ① {A} ∼ A jiù B as soon as A (then) B
② ∼ A èr B ⓐvery AB, where AB is a two-syllable s.v. | ∼ qīng èr jìng ∼清二静 absolutely quiet ⓑone or two AB, where AB is a noun | ∼ chà èr cuò ∼差二错 one or two mistakes
③ ∼ A bàn A/B a little of A and of A or B, where A and B are identical or similar in meaning | Zhège gōngchéng kě bụ̀ shì ∼ tiān bàn tiān néng wán de. 这个工程可不是∼天半天能完的。 This project can’t be finished in a short time.
④ ∼ V1 ér V2 V2 immediately after V1 | ∼nù’érqù ∼怒而去 flare up and leave
⑤ ∼ N (yě) bù/méi V not V even one N; without omitting a single N | ∼zìbụ̀lòu ∼字不漏 without omitting a single character
⑥ V ∼ VM V a VM | yǎo ∼ kǒu 咬∼口 take a bite
⑦ ∼ V1 bù V2 inalterably V1 | ∼ qù bù fǎn ∼去不返 gone never to return
⑧ ∼ N1 ∼ N2 ⓐall or the whole of N1/N2 | ∼shēng∼shì ∼生∼世 all one’s life ⓑeach/every N1/N2 | ∼yán∼xíng ∼言∼行 every word and deed
⑨ ∼ V1 ∼ V2 ⓐdo V1/V2 in succession (where V1/V2 are similar in meaning) | ∼bèng∼tiào ∼蹦∼跳 skip and jump ⓑdo V1/V2 alternately (where V1/V2 contrast in meaning) | ∼wèn∼dá ∼问∼答 one asks and the other answers ⑩ ∼ A ∼ B one A, one B (where A/B are opposite in meaning) | ∼ dōng ∼ xī ∼东∼西 one east, one west ∼ V ²zài V keep on doing V | ∼cuòzàicuò ∼错再错 keep on making mistakes ◆n. a note of the scale in gōngchěpǔ
A single horizontal stroke, symbolizing the number 1. The tone (yī, yí, or yì) depends on the following syllable. By itself, or at the end of a phrase, 一 is pronounced yī (first tone). Before a fourth tone syllable, 一 is pronounced yí (second tone, as in 一定 yídìng). Before any other syllable, 一 is pronounced yì (fourth tone, as in 一些 yìxiē). Usually these tone changes are not indicated in pinyin, and the syllable is written with the first tone: yī. Thus, the dictionary has yīdìng and yīxiē, but these should be pronounced yídìng and yìxiē.
一 yī is the first of the 214 radicals.
As a stroke type, a horizontal stroke 一 is called héng (横).
是
是 [shì] to be [tí]
是 ¹shì* {A} v. ①be ②〈wr.〉 praise; justify ◆b.f. matter; affair | guó∼ 国∼ national affairs
◆pr. this; all
◆s.v. right; true
◆adv. certainly; for sure | Tiānqì ∼ rè. 天气∼热。 It sure is hot.
◆cons. A ∼ A it’s A all right, but … | Hǎo ∼ hǎo, kěshì wǒ bù xǐhuan. 好∼好, 可是我不喜欢。 It’s good all right, but I don’t like it.
The top is 日 rì ‘sun’. The bottom
不
不 [bù] not [bú] [fǒu] [fōu] [fū]
不 ¹bù* {A} adv. ①not ②no
◆cons. ① ∼ A ∼ B (where A B are paired synonyms) not A B | ∼huāng∼máng ∼慌∼忙 unhurried
② ∼ A ∼ B (where A B are antonymous stative verbs) neither A nor B | ∼̣dà∼xiǎo ∼大∼小 neither (too) big nor (too) small
③ ∼ A ∼ B (where A B are antonymous verbs) no B without A | ∼̣pò∼̣lì ∼破∼立 no constructing without destroying
④ ∼ A ér B do B without doing A | ∼̣zhàn’érshèng ∼战而胜 win without fighting ⑤ A ∼ A (the matter/question of) A or not A | bóshì ∼ bóshì, wǒ wúsuǒwèi. 博士∼博士, 我无所谓。 Whether or not I get a PhD makes no difference to me.
⑥ V1 ∼ V1V2 (variant form of V1V2 ∼ V1V2, where V1V2 is a compound verb) whether or not V1V2 | kě ∼ kěnéng? 可∼可能? Is it possible that …?
◆pref. non-; un-
不 bu inf. (used in r.v.) | tīng∼dǒng 听∼懂 don’t understand (by listening)
“Picture of a flying bird…” –Karlgren.
“A bird that rises, flapping the wings, straight towards 一 the skies; 鸟飞上也。从一天也。象形兼指事。…It is now used [假借] jiǎjiè, as an adverb of negation; 为非。为无。” –Wieger.
The actual pronunciation is bú (rising tone) when the following syllable is falling tone. Thus, 不对 is pronounced búduì. Nevertheless, it is standard to write bù in any case.
了
了 [le] (particle) [liǎo] 了解 comprehend [liào] (=瞭) [liāo] [liáo]
了 ¹le* {A} m.p. (indicating a new situation) | Hǎo ∼. 好∼。 It’s OK now.
◆a.m. (indicating completed action) | Wǒ zhị̌ qǐng∼ yị̄ wèi kèren. 我只请∼一位客人。 I invited only one guest.
了 ¹liǎo* {A} v. end; finish; settle; dispose of | Gǎnkuài bǎ zhè jiàn shìr ∼ le. 赶快把这件事儿∼了。 Put an end to this matter quickly.
◆b.f. know clearly; understand 了解 liạ̌ojiě*
◆cmp. (used with de and bu to indicate possibility) | chīde∼ 吃得∼ can eat
◆adv. 〈wr.〉 entirely
瞭/了 ³liào {E} b.f. observe; look out over 瞭望 liàowàng 瞭望塔 liàowàngtǎ
了 ³liāo char. 微微了了 wēiwēiliaoliāo
了 ¹³liáo char. 嘹高儿 liáogāor
Said to be 子 (zǐ) ‘child’ without arms; maybe an abstract symbol.
“从子无臂, 指事。…This character, being very easy to write, and of no use, had its primitive meaning changed into different arbitrary ones. It is now used specially to write the suffix liǎo, so frequent in the spoken language. Note the philological definition of the part it plays in that case; 发声之词, 犹言结; emission of a sound, in order to knot, to end a sentence” –Wieger.
人
人 [rén] person; 人类 rénlèi humankind; 有人吗? anybody here?
人 ¹rén* {A} n. person; people
◆b.f. human |
Zhè shì ∼ gàn de ma? 这是∼干的吗? Was this done by a human being?
人口 rénkǒu*
人格 réngé
Picture of a person. Usually considered to represent two legs, the rest of the body being abbreviated. But early forms appear to show the whole body in profile, with one arm and one leg. The character got turned on its side (a common occurrence). As a component, rén is often written 亻 on the left side of characters, as in 他, 们, 你, 仁 , etc.
人 is the ninth of the 214 radicals.
Compare 入 rù and 儿 ér.
在
在 [zài] at; 现在 xiànzài now; 存在 cúnzài exist
在 ¹zài* {A} v.
①be at/in/on | Qǐngwèn, Lǎo Wáng ∼ ma? 请问, 老王∼吗? Excuse me, is Old Wang there/here?
②exist; live | Wǒ bàba yǐjing bụ̀∼ le. 我爸爸已经不∼了。 My father has passed away.
③depend on; rest with
◆adv. (indicating an action in progress) | Zuótiān sì diǎn wǒ ∼ yóuyǒng. 昨天四点我∼游泳。 I was swimming at four yesterday.
◆cov. in; at; on; etc. | Wǒ ∼ Běijīng zhù. 我∼北京住。 I live in Beijing.
◆cons.
① ∼ A (zhī)zhōng in (the midst/process of) A
② ∼ A kàn(lai) as A sees it; in A’s opinion | ∼ wǒ kànlai ∼我看来 as I see it.
The meaning is suggested by 土 (tǔ) ‘land’: location. The first three strokes are a slight distortion of 才 cái phonetic. Compare 存 cún ‘exist’.
我
我 [wǒ] I, me; 我们 wǒmen we
Picture of a kind of weapon, compare 戈 gē. In the oracle bone writing, the character had already been borrowed for the first person pronoun ‘I’, for unknown reasons (possibly a phonetic loan).
有
有 [yǒu] have; there is; 没有 haven’t; 有的 some [yòu] (=又) [wěi]
有 ¹yǒu* {A} v.
①have; possess
②be; exist
◆cons. ① ∼ A ∼ B both A and B | ∼ shuō ∼ xiào ∼说∼笑 talking and laughing
② ∼ A wú B have A but not B | ∼ zēng wú jiǎn ∼增无减 increase but not decrease
③ ∼ N kě V there is N which (one) can/may V | ∼ fàn kě chī ∼饭可吃 have food to eat
◆pref. (before names of dynasties) 〈wr.〉 | ∼ Xià ∼夏 the Xia dynasty
有 ⁹yòu 〈wr.〉 adv. also
◆cons. A ∼ B round number A and fractional amount B | sìshí ∼ bā nián 四十∼八年 48 years
有 yǒu is composed of
中
中 [zhōng] middle; in; 中国 Zhōngguó China [zhòng] hit (a target)
中 ¹zhōng* {A} b.f./suf.
①center; middle; interior 中心 ¹zhōngxīn*
②China 中国 Zhōngguó
③middle; mid 中央 zhōngyāng*
④medium; intermediate 中等 zhōngděng
⑤mean; halfway between two extremes 中间 ¹zhōngjiān(r)* ⑥neutral 中立 ¹zhōnglì*
⑦〈lg.〉 neutral 中性 zhōngxìng
⑧fit for; good for 中用 zhōngyòng
◆s.v. 〈topo.〉 all right; OK. | Zhèyàng ∼ bu ∼? 这样∼不∼? Is this OK?
中 ³zhòng {C} v.
①hit (a target); attain
②be hit by
③fall into
④pass an exam
◆suf. accurately; on the dot | Nǐ cāi∼ le. 你猜∼了。 You guessed right.
A 口 square with a 丨 line going through the middle of it.
China calls itself 中国 Zhōngguó or “Middle Kingdom”.
这
这(F這) [zhè] [zhèi] this
From 言 yán ‘words’ (reduced to 文 wén in the simple form 这), and 辶(辵 chuò) ‘go’.
Originally used for an obsolete word which meant ‘go to meet’, in which 言 yán was phonetic, then borrowed for the modern word zhè (for unknown reasons, says Karlgren). Compare 那 nà ‘that’. 这 zhè and 那 nà have alternative pronunciations zhèi and nèi, used before a measure word especially in 北京 Běijīng, but it is more standard to stick to the readings zhè and nà all the time.
大
大 [dà] big; 大家 dàjiā everybody [dài] 大夫 dàifu doctor [tài]
大 dà* {A} s.v.
①big; great; high; tall; vast
②much; very
③old | Tā duō ∼? 他多∼? How old is he? ④eldest
⑤adult
◆n. 〈topo.〉 father
◆cons. ① ∼ V tè V big/great/etc. V | ∼ cuò tè cuò ∼错特错 gross error
② ∼ A ∼ B used with two monosyllabic nouns, verbs, or stative verbs related in meaning to indicate high degree | ∼yú-∼ròu bǎile yī̠ mǎn zhuō. ∼鱼∼肉摆了一满桌。 The table was filled with lots of meat and fish.
大 ⁹dài {E} b.f. person of importance 大夫 dàifu*
A person with arms stretched out to mean “big”.
国
国(F國) [guó] (国家) country; 中国 China; 美国 USA
国[國] ¹guó {A} n.
①country; state; nation
②Surname
◆b.f. ①of the state; national 国旗 guóqí*
②of our country; Chinese 国画 guóhuà*
The old character 或 depicted 口 territory defended by 一 a wall and 戈 weapons. Then 或 got surrounded by 囗, representing the borders of a nation, producing the full form 國. (或 was then borrowed for the similar sounding word huò ‘or’.) The simple form 国 dates back to the Sòng dynasty (960-1279); it has 玉 (yù) ‘jade’ in place of 或. There was a variant 囯 with 王 (wáng) ‘king’ in the middle.
上
上 [shàng] over; top; (go) up; last, previous [shǎng] 上声 [shang]
上 ¹shàng* {A} b.f.
①upper; upward 上面 shàngmian(r)
②higher; superior; better 上等 shàngděng*
③first (part); preceding; previous 上半夜 shàngbànyè(r)
④up to (preceding numbers) | ∼ yī̠bǎi rén ∼一百人 up to a hundred people
⑤emperor 皇上 huángshang
⑥posterior
◆v. ①go up; mount; board; get on
②go to; leave for
③submit; send in; present
④forge/go ahead
⑤appear on the stage; enter
⑥place sth. in position; set; fix; apply
⑦be put on record; be carried (in a publication)
⑧wind; screw; tighten
◆cmp. able/unable | Wǒmen gǎnde∼ fēijī ma? 我们赶得∼飞机吗? Can we make the plane?
◆cons. (zài) A ∼ as far as A is concerned; in the field of A
◆n. 〈mus.〉 no. 1 note in gōngchěpǔ
上 ¹shang {E} suf.
①(after verbs) up | pá∼ 爬∼ climb up | suǒ∼ mén 锁∼门 lock the door; lock up | ài∼ 爱∼ fall in love
②(after nouns) on; in; with regard to; -ically | shū ∼ 书∼ on the book | jīngjì ∼ 经济∼ on economic matters | fāngfǎ ∼ 方法∼ methodologically
上 ³shǎng {E} b.f. 〈lg.〉 ①“rising” tone in trad. Ch. phonology 上声 shǎngshēng
②Mandarin 3rd tone 上声 shǎngshēng
Symbol, opposite of 下 xià ‘under’.
个
个(F個) [gè] [ge] (measure word); 个人 personal [gě] 自个 [gàn]
个[個] ge {E} m. general measure word | dǎ ∼ jié 打∼结 tie a knot
◆cons. (used between verb and complement) | máng ∼ bù tíng 忙∼不停 be nonstop busy | wèn ∼ míngbai 问∼明白 ask for clarification
个[個] ¹gè* {A} pref. individual
◆m. (reading/citation pronunciation for ge)
个[個] ⁴gě char. 各个儿 gègěr 自个 zìgě(r)
Picture of a twig of bamboo, half of 竹 zhú ‘bamboo’.
The full form 個 is 亻(人 rén) ‘person’ plus 固 gù phonetic. A variant form 箇 is 竹 over 固.
The picture on the far left is entitled 三笔个字式, among the examples of bamboo art in 芥子园画谱.
来
来(F來) [lái] come; 起来 get up; 原来 it turns out [lai]
来[來] ¹lái* {A} v.
①come; arrive | Dào zhèbiān(r) ∼. 到这边(儿)∼。 Come over here.
②crop up; take place
③bring
④do (specific meaning depending on context) | Ràng wǒ ∼. 让我∼。 Let me do it. | ∼ diǎnr chī de. ∼点儿吃的。 Bring sth. to eat.
◆suf.
①ability | zuòbu∼ 作不∼ don’t know how to do it
②worthwhile effort/expense | huáde∼ 划得∼ worth the money
③beginning of an action | tíqị̌ bǐ ∼ 提起笔∼ pick up a pen to write
④hypothetical action | xiǎng∼/shuō∼ hǎoxiào 想∼/说∼好笑 funny to think/speak of
⑤-ly (after numerals) | yī∼ 一∼ firstly | èr∼ 二∼ secondly
⑥time (since) | duō nián ∼ 多年∼ for many years
◆b.f. ①future; later 将来 jiānglái 后来 hòulái
②coming 来临 láilín
③since 生来 shēnglái 本来 běnlái ◆adv. over; and more | sānshí ∼ suì 三十∼岁 over 30 years old
◆conj. (in order) to | chàng ge gēr ∼ còu rènao 唱个歌儿∼凑热闹 sing a song to liven things
◆cons. ① V ∼ V qù V back and forth | zǒu∼zǒuqù 走∼走去 walk back and forth
② wǒ(men) ∼ V let me/us V
③ {D} cóng A ∼ jiǎng/kàn/shuō speaking/viewing/speaking from consideration of A | cóng wǒ ∼ shuō, … 从我∼说, … in my view, … See also láizhe
Picture of bearded barley. The character was borrowed for the word lái ‘come’, which happened to have the same pronunciation as the ancient word for bearded barley.
他
他 [tā] he, him; she, her; it; (其他 qítā) other [tuó]
他[-/牠] ¹tā* {A} pr.
①he
②she
③it
④they (referring to inanimate things in object position) | Lí dōu làn le, zuìhǎo bǎ ∼ rēng le. 梨都烂了, 最好把∼扔了。 The pears have all spoiled; better throw them away.
◆b.f. other; another 其他 qítā* 他人 tārén 他处 tāchù*
From 亻(人 rén) ‘person’ and 也 (yě ‘also’). 也 may have been phonetic (the ancient sounds, now tā and yě, were similar). However, ‘he, she, or it’ was once written 它, then 佗, and then 他. So 他 may have been a simplification of 佗.
In spoken Chinese, pronouns have no gender. The single word tā means ‘he, she, or it’. Only in modern times did somebody start writing 她 for tā ‘she’. 它 tā now means ‘it’ exclusively.
为
为(F為) [wèi] for, on account of [wéi] be, become
为[為/爲] ¹wèi* {A} v. 〈wr.〉 stand for; support
◆cov. for; on account of; to | Nǐ zhèyàng zuò ∼ shéi? 你这样做∼谁? For whom are you doing this?
◆cons. ∼ N ér V to V for or on behalf of N | ∼ rénmín ér sǐ ∼人民而死 die for the people
◆b.f. for; because of 为什么 wèishénme 因为 ¹yīnwèi* See also wèicǐ See also ¹wèizhī
为[為/爲] ¹wéi {A} v.
①do; accomplish
②act/serve as
③be; become
④govern
◆cov. by
◆cons. ∼ N suǒ V be V’ed by N | ∼ dí suǒ bài ∼敌所败 be defeated by the enemy
◆suf.
①(added to s.v. to form adv.) | dà∼ kěguì 大∼可贵 very valuable/praiseworthy
②(added to adv. as intensifier) | jí∼ kěpà 极∼可怕 extremely frightening
An elephant and a hand guiding it.
Pronounced wèi when it means ‘on account of’, and in the words 为了 wèile, 为着 wèizhe, 为什么 wèishenme, and 因为 yīnwèi. Otherwise pronounced wéi.
The old form 爲 is still used almost as much as the “full” form 為.
到
到 [dào] to, towards, until
到 ¹dào* {A} v.
①arrive; reach
②go to
◆cov. up until
◆s.v. thoughtful; considerate
◆cmp. completion of verbal action | Nǐ kàn∼ dì-jǐ yè le? 你看∼第几页了? What page have you gotten to?
◆cons. {C} ∼ ... (wéi)zhǐ reach ... as a stopping point; as far as ... | ∼ xiànzài wéizhǐ, wǒmen zhǐ shōudào èrshí piān lùnwén. ∼现在为止, 我们只收到二十篇论文。 Up to now we have received only twenty papers.
The meaning is similar to 至 (zhì) ‘until’. The right side 刂(刀) dāo (‘knife’) is phonetic.
地
地 [dì] earth [de] -ly (adverbial particle)
地 ²de {A} s.p. (adv.-forming, like English -ly) | hěn kuài ∼ 很快∼ very quickly
地 ²dì {A} n.
①the earth
②land; soil
③fields
④ground
◆b.f. ①place 地方 dìfāng*
②position 地位 ¹dìwèi*
③background
④distance | Wǒmen xuéxiào lí zhèr yǒu sān zhàn ∼. 我们学校离这儿有三站∼。 Our school is three bus stops from here.
From 土 (tǔ) ‘earth’ and 也 yě (‘also’) phonetic. The pronunciations have gradually changed so that 地 dì no longer sounds similar to 也 yě.
和
和 [hé] and; with; harmony [huo] 暖和 [hè] [huó] [huò] [hàn] [hú] [hē] [huō]
和 ¹hé* {A} b.f.
①gentle; mild; moderate 温和 wēnhé*
②harmonious; on friendly terms 调和 ¹tiáohé*
◆cov. (together) with
◆n. ①sum
②peace
③〈sport〉 draw; tie | Zhè pán ⁶qí ∼ le. 这盘棋∼了。 This game of chess ended in a draw.
④Japan
⑤Surname ◆v. 〈sport〉 tie ◆conj. and
和 ¹⁰hú {E} v. complete a set in mahjong or playing cards
和 ²huó {E} v. mix with water/etc.; knead
和 ⁷huò {E} v. mix with water; thin ◆m. (for changes of water)
和 ³hè {E} v. ①join in singing ②compose a poem in reply
和 ⁵hē char. 乐乐和和 lèlehēhē
和 ⁷huō char. 傻傻和和 shǎshǎhuōhuō
From 禾 hé (‘grain’) phonetic, and 口 (kǒu) ‘mouth’, signifying singing in harmony, or talking together. 口 can also be taken together with 禾 to mean plenty of 禾 grain to 口 eat, when humans have a harmonious relationship with nature. Compare 合 hé which has a similar meaning.
时
时(F時) [shí] (时间 shíjiān, 时候 shíhou) time; 小时 hour
时[時] ²shí {D} n.
①time (when) | Lái ∼, qǐng gàosu wǒ. 来∼, 请告诉我。 Let me know when you come.
②〈lg.〉 tense
③Surname
◆b.f. ①period; season 时代 ¹shídài*
②hour; o’clock
③opportunity; chance 时机 ¹shíjī
④current; present 时事 ²shíshì
◆adv. now and then; occasionally; from time to time
◆cons. ∼ A ∼ B sometimes A, sometimes B | ∼ yuǎn ∼ jìn ∼远∼近 sometimes far, sometimes near
The full form 時 is 日 (rì) ‘day’ plus 寺 sì (‘temple’) phonetic. In the simple form 时, 寺 is replaced by 寸 (cùn ‘inch’: measurement). Time is measured in 日 days.
Historical trivia: before it became 時, it was 旹, the top being 之 zhī phonetic. 之 was replaced by 寺 sì, producing the full form 時. Since 寺 is 之(土) over 寸, the change really consisted in adding 寸 to 旹. For the simple form 时, 之(土) was discarded while 寸 was retained.
们
们(F們) [men] (pluralizing suffix:) 我们 wǒmen we; 人们 people
们[們] men {A} suf. plural for pronouns and human nouns
From 亻(人 rén) ‘person’ and 门(門) mén phonetic.
年
年 [nián] year; 今(明,去)年 this (next, last) year [nìng]
年 ¹nián* {A} m. year
◆b.f. ①age 年龄 niánlíng
②New Year 年糕 ¹niángāo
③a period in one's life 中年 ¹zhōngnián
④a period in history 末年 mònián
⑤harvest 年成 niáncheng*
◆n. ①age | Tā ∼ jìn liùshí. 他∼近六十。 He's close to 60 years old.
②Surname
From 禾 hé ‘grain’ over 人 rén ‘person’. The primary meaning was ‘harvest’. Later versions of the character had 千 qiān ‘thousand’ at the bottom (notice that 千 was just 人 plus a horizontal stroke).
“The crop…the thousand grains. By extension, a year, the time required for a harvest” –Wieger.
