Definitions

(noun) pitch pipe; musical note

Etymology

Depicts two metal plates.

About

The character originated as a straightforward pictograph of two metal plates stacked one above the other. It is written with two (kǒu) components, each ordinarily meaning "mouth", placed vertically; some early forms even add a stroke linking them to emphasize the connection. This image of paired, hollow shapes led to the character being borrowed for the ancient Chinese pitch pipes, bamboo tubes cut to specific lengths to produce standard musical tones. Today, the original metallic and musical meanings are completely forgotten, and is used almost exclusively as a very common surname.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 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)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

先生是老师。

Lǚ xiānsheng shì lǎoshī.

Mr. Lü is a teacher.

阿姨今天来了。

Lǚ āyí jīntiān lái le.

Auntie Lü came today.

我喜欢看剧。

Wǒ xǐhuān kàn Lǚjù.

I like watching Lü opera.

宋岛很美丽。

Lǚsòng dǎo hěn měilì.

Luzon Island is very beautiful.

教授教我们数学。

Lǚ jiàoshòu jiāo wǒmen shùxué.

Professor Lü teaches us mathematics.

这位医生医术高明。

Zhè wèi Lǚ yīshēng yīshù gāomíng.

This Doctor Lü has superb medical skills.

工程师的设计很创新。

Lǚ gōngchéngshī de shèjì hěn chuàngxīn.

Engineer Lü's design is very innovative.

我们公司聘请了顾问。

Wǒmen gōngsī pìngǐng le Lǚ gùwèn.

Our company hired Consultant Lü.