俄

亻 + 我

Definitions

é (noun,adjective) Russia; Russian

é (adverb) suddenly; very soon

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 我 represents the sound.

Phonetic: 我

About

俄 is a phono-semantic compound combining the person radical 亻 with the phonetic 我. Historically, it functioned as an adverb meaning "suddenly" or "in a very short time", and could also describe something leaning or tilted. In modern language, it was borrowed purely for its sound to transliterate the first syllable of "Russia", largely replacing its original senses to become the standard abbreviation for Russia and the Russian language.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

俄罗斯是一个大国。

É luó sī shì yī gè dà guó.

Russia is a big country.

我正在学习俄语。

Wǒ zhèng zài xué xí é yǔ.

I am studying Russian.

俄式面包很好吃。

É shì miàn bāo hěn hǎo chī.

Russian-style bread is delicious.

俄罗斯首都是莫斯科。

É luó sī shǒu dū shì mò sī kē.

The capital of Russia is Moscow.

俄语比英语难学。

É yǔ bǐ yīng yǔ nán xué.

Russian is harder to learn than English.

我去过俄罗斯旅游。

Wǒ qù guò é luó sī lǚ yóu.

I have traveled to Russia.

俄罗斯的冬天非常寒冷。

É luó sī de dōng tiān fēi cháng hán lěng.

Russian winter is very cold.

俄中两国在经济上合作密切。

É zhōng liǎng guó zài jīng jì shàng hé zuò mì qiè.

Russia and China cooperate closely in economy.

Related Characters

Component: 亻

Component: 我

俄