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. represents the sound and represents the meaning.

About

The character 卷 derives from a composition where the component 龹 functions phonetically while 卩, representing a kneeling person, contributes the semantic notion of bending or curling. Its traditional form for the verb "to roll" is 捲, which explicitly adds the hand radical 扌 to the base 卷 to emphasize manual action. Initially conveying physical curling, the semantic range of 卷 broadened to include objects formed by that action, such as a scroll, a book volume, or an examination paper, while retaining its association with rolling motions.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 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)
Seal etymology image
Seal 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)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他把纸起来。

Tā bǎ zhǐ juǎn qǐlái.

He rolls up the paper.

这是一胶带。

Zhè shì yī juǎn jiāodài.

This is a roll of tape.

这本书共有三

Zhè běn shū gòng yǒu sān juàn.

This book has three volumes.

考试子很难。

Kǎoshì juànzi hěn nán.

The exam paper is very difficult.

头发很漂亮。

Tā juǎn tóufa hěn piàoliang.

Her curled hair is very pretty.

他正在一份重要的文件。

Tā zhèngzài juǎn yī fèn zhòngyào de wénjiàn.

He is rolling up an important document.

这场竞争越来越了。

Zhè chǎng jìngzhēng yuè lái yuè juǎn le.

This competition is becoming more and more intense.

阅读这份宗需要耐心。

Yuèdú zhè fèn juànzōng xūyào nàixīn.

Reading this case file requires patience.