Definitions

(particle) and; with; together with
(verb) to participate; to take part in

Etymology

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. The traditional component was removed for simplification.

About

The character "与" derives from its traditional form "與", a compound graph historically associated with notions of mutual assistance or collective action, as inferred from its components. Its earliest core meaning was that of giving or granting, a verbal sense prevalent in classical texts. Over centuries, its function broadened through linguistic shift from a verb to a grammatical particle, acquiring the prepositional and conjunctive roles meaning "with" or "and" that are primary in contemporary usage. This semantic expansion coincided with the graphical simplification to "与", which was adopted from a historical cursive abbreviation of the more complex traditional character, preserving its essential meanings within a reduced form.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

狗是动物。

Māo yǔ gǒu shì dòngwù.

Cats and dogs are animals.

妹妹一起玩。

Wǒ yǔ mèimei yīqǐ wán.

I play with my younger sister.

这本书那本书相似。

Zhè běn shū yǔ nà běn shū xiāngsì.

This book is similar to that book.

他的成功努力有关。

Tā de chénggōng yǔ nǔlì yǒuguān.

His success is related to hard work.

我们老师讨论了问题。

Wǒmen yǔ lǎoshī tǎolùn le wèntí.

We discussed the problem with the teacher.

环境保护可持续发展至关重要。

Huánjìng bǎohù yǔ kě chíxù fāzhǎn zhìguān zhòngyào.

Environmental protection and sustainable development are crucial.

这项政策社会福利密切相关。

Zhè xiàng zhèngcè yǔ shèhuì fúlì mìqiè xiāngguān.

This policy is closely related to social welfare.

国际间的合作交流促进了世界和平。

Guójì jiān de hézuò yǔ jiāoliú cùjìn le shìjiè hépíng.

International cooperation and exchange promote world peace.