Definitions

jūn (noun) ruler; monarch; lord
jūn (noun) gentleman; sir

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

About

The character "君" is etymologically composed of "尹", representing a hand holding a staff as an emblem of authority, and "口", denoting speech or command, which together originally conceptualized a ruler who governs through spoken directives. In its earliest contexts, the term was applied specifically to sovereigns and feudal lords, emphasizing their role as sources of order and decree. Over centuries, the semantic scope of "君" gradually extended from purely political dominion to incorporate ethical and social dimensions, notably in the Confucian ideal of the "君子" or noble person, where it signified moral excellence rather than mere power. This evolution further softened its usage into a general honorific, allowing it to function as a polite form of address that conveys respect and deference in both historical and contemporary language.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 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 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 Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

子应该诚实守信。

Jūnzǐ yīnggāi chéngshí shǒuxìn.

Gentlemen should be honest and keep promises.

主制度在古代很常见。

Jūnzhǔ zhìdù zài gǔdài hěn chángjiàn.

The monarchical system was common in ancient times.

他扮演了主角色。

Tā bànyǎn le jūnzhǔ juésè.

He played the role of a monarch.

请稍等,我马上就来。

Jūn qǐng shāo děng, wǒ mǎshàng jiù lái.

Please wait a moment, I'll be right there.

如果有意合作,我们可以详细讨论。

Rúguǒ jūn yǒuyì hézuò, wǒmen kěyǐ xiángxì tǎolùn.

If you are interested in cooperation, we can discuss in detail.

子之间的友谊往往很纯粹。

Jūnzǐ zhī jiān de yǒuyì wǎngwǎng hěn chúncuì.

Friendship between gentlemen is often pure.

在历史上,主权力有时过于集中。

Zài lìshǐ shàng, jūnzhǔ quánlì yǒushí guòyú jízhōng.

In history, monarchical power was sometimes overly concentrated.

尽管主立宪制限制了主的权力,但主仍是国家的象征。

Jǐnguǎn jūnzhǔ lìxiàn zhì xiànzhì le jūnzhǔ de quánlì, dàn jūnzhǔ réng shì guójiā de xiàngzhēng.

Although constitutional monarchy limits the power of the monarch, the monarch remains the symbol of the country.