Definitions

jūn (noun) army; military

Etymology

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. represents the sound and represents the meaning.

About

The character 军, meaning "army" or "military", derives from a structure composed of 車 (chariot or vehicle) enclosed by 冖, a radical representing a cover or enclosure. This pictographic construction originally depicted a convoy of wheeled vehicles, specifically war chariots, gathered within a protected encampment, reflecting the organized core of ancient armed forces. Over time, its semantic scope expanded beyond the literal chariot corps to denote any large, organized body of troops, and further broadened to encompass abstract concepts related to military affairs and collective organizations. The traditional form 軍 preserves this original composition clearly, while the simplified form 军 retains the covering radical but streamlines the vehicle component.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的哥哥是人。

Wǒ de gēge shì jūnrén.

My older brother is a soldier.

保卫国家。

Hǎijūn bǎowèi guójiā.

The navy protects the country.

飞机很先进。

Kōngjūn fēijī hěn xiānjìn.

Air force planes are very advanced.

队训练非常严格。

Jūnduì xùnliàn fēicháng yángé.

Military training is very strict.

事演习正在进行。

Jūnshì yǎnxí zhèngzài jìnxíng.

The military exercise is ongoing.

校培养了许多官。

Jūnxiào péiyǎng le xǔduō jūnguān.

The military school has trained many officers.

事战略需要周密计划。

Jūnshì zhànlüè xūyào zhōumì jìhuà.

Military strategy requires careful planning.

国际事合作有助于和平。

Guójì jūnshì hézuò yǒuzhù yú hépíng.

International military cooperation contributes to peace.