Category: Chinese Grammar

Write 曲 (qū qǔ)(bent) in Chinese character

曲(qū、qǔ)
Origin: 甲骨文的“曲”像曲尺形,本义是“弯曲”,和“直”相对(音qū)。又有“乐曲”的意思(音qǔ)。
On ancient oracle bone inscriptions, the character “曲” resembles a curved ruler, so its original meaning was “bent,” the opposite of straight, and it was pronounced “qū.” It also has the meaning “music” and “song” when pronounced “qǔ.”

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Write 白(bái)(white) in Chinese character

白(bái) Origin: 这个字原来是烛火的形状,中心是烛芯或灯芯,有了烛光就可以照亮,因此它最初的意思是“明亮”“清楚”,后来常用来指“白色”。
The original shape of this character is a candle with a wick in center. Its original meaning was bright and clear, and now is often used to refer to the color white.

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Write 会(huì)(meet) in Chinese character

会(huì) Origin: “会”是“脍”(音kuài,细切的肉或鱼)的本字,字的上部是盒盖,下面是食器,中间装的就是“脍”,但“会”后来多用于表示会议、集会的意思。“会” is the original form of “脍”, which is pronounced “kuài” and means the cutting of meat or fish. The upper part is a lid, a bowl of food is below, and in the middle is “脍.” However, the character “会” later came to represent meetings or associations.

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Write 疆(jiāng)(boundary) in Chinese character

疆 jiāng Origin: 在甲骨文中,“疆”字的左边是一把丈量土地用的弓,右边是两块田地,本义是“划分疆界”,现在多指“边界”。
On oracle bones inscriptions, the left side of “疆” is a type of bow used to measure land; on the right side are two fields. The character’s original meaning is to divide along borders, and now it is more often used to mean boundary.

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