Definitions
(noun)
jade tablet (ancient ceremonial symbol of rank)
Etymology
Depicts a ceremonial jade tablet pointed at the top.
About
The character "圭" is structurally composed of two instances of the earth radical "土" placed vertically, a formation that visually implies a constructed or layered object. Etymologically, it originally referred to a ceremonial jade tablet, a ritual object employed in ancient contexts to signify authority and rank. Over time, its meaning extended beyond this concrete object to denote standardized units of measurement, both for length and volume, conceptually linked to the tablet's form and function. This semantic expansion led to its incorporation into various compound words, where it often imparts a sense of criterion or model, thereby maintaining a connection to its historical role as a formal and precise artifact.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他的行为合乎道德圭臬。
古代用圭表来测量日影。
南美洲有一个国家叫圭亚那。
他的性格毫无圭角，非常圆滑。
这块玉被雕刻成圭璧的形状。
这种材料的成分含有硅元素。
他一向以诚信为立身之圭臬。
古代圭田的划分有着严格的规定。