倩

qiàn

亻 + 青

Definitions

qiàn pretty; winsome; to ask for sb's help; son-in-law (old)

Etymology

A young 青 person 亻; 青 also provides the pronunciation

About

倩 is a phono-semantic compound: the semantic radical 亻 ('person') pairs with 青, which means 'young' and also gives the pronunciation. Originally it referred to a handsome man or a woman with a lovely smile, later developing an unrelated verbal sense of asking for help or employing someone. The character's makeup thus connects human physical attractiveness with interpersonal actions, covering both beauty and requests for assistance.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

小倩是我的朋友。

Xiǎo Qiàn shì wǒ de péngyou.

Xiao Qian is my friend.

她的倩影很美。

Tā de qiànyǐng hěn měi.

Her pretty figure is very beautiful.

电影里有个倩女。

Diànyǐng lǐ yǒu gè qiànnǚ.

There is a beautiful woman in the movie.

他画出了她的倩影。

Tā huà chūle tā de qiànyǐng.

He drew her pretty figure.

倩丽的风景让人陶醉。

Qiànlì de fēngjǐng ràng rén táozuì.

The beautiful scenery makes people intoxicated.

她留下了一个倩笑。

Tā liú xiàle yīgè qiàn xiào.

She left behind a pretty smile.

倩女幽魂是一部著名的电影。

Qiànnǚ Yōuhún shì yī bù zhùmíng de diànyǐng.

"A Chinese Ghost Story" is a famous movie.

在月光下，她的倩影显得格外动人。

Zài yuèguāng xià, tā de qiànyǐng xiǎndé géwài dòngrén.

Under the moonlight, her pretty figure appears especially touching.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 亻

Component: 青

倩