卷

捲

juǎn, juàn

㔾 + 龹

HSK 2.0Level 6

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

juǎn (verb) to roll up; to roll

juàn (noun) scroll; book; volume; chapter; exam paper

juǎn (verb) to sweep up; to carry on

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 龹 represents the sound and 卩 represents the meaning.

About

卷 is a phonosemantic compound: 龹 supplies the sound, and 卩, originally a kneeling figure, supplies the meaning associated with rolling or bending. The character originally referred to rolling up flexible materials like the bamboo slips or silk scrolls used for early documents. Because texts were stored as rolled bundles, 卷 naturally became a measure word for books, volumes, or chapters, while continuing to serve as the verb "to roll up".

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他把纸卷起来。

Tā bǎ zhǐ juǎn qǐlái.

He rolls up the paper.

这是一卷胶带。

Zhè shì yī juǎn jiāodài.

This is a roll of tape.

这本书共有三卷。

Zhè běn shū gòng yǒu sān juàn.

This book has three volumes.

考试卷子很难。

Kǎoshì juànzi hěn nán.

The exam paper is very difficult.

她卷头发很漂亮。

Tā juǎn tóufa hěn piàoliang.

Her curled hair is very pretty.

他正在卷一份重要的文件。

Tā zhèngzài juǎn yī fèn zhòngyào de wénjiàn.

He is rolling up an important document.

这场竞争越来越卷了。

Zhè chǎng jìngzhēng yuè lái yuè juǎn le.

This competition is becoming more and more intense.

阅读这份卷宗需要耐心。

Yuèdú zhè fèn juànzōng xūyào nàixīn.

Reading this case file requires patience.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 㔾

Component: 龹

卷