坤

堃

kūn

土 + 申

Definitions

kūn (noun) earth; female principle

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 申 represents the meaning and 土 represents the sound. Simplified form of 堃.

Semantic: 申 Phonetic: 土

About

A phono-semantic compound and simplified form of 堃, 坤 uses 申 to convey the meaning and 土 for the sound. As one of the eight trigrams, it embodies earth, the female principle, yielding, and receptivity within the Yin-Yang system, directly complementing the heavenly Qian (乾). The character thus encompasses femininity, maternal attributes, and the physical ground, appearing throughout classical and philosophical works to express the passive, nurturing, and grounding forces of the natural world.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Clerical Wu (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

王坤喜欢打篮球。

Wáng Kūn xǐhuān dǎ lánqiú.

Wang Kun likes playing basketball.

李坤在图书馆看书。

Lǐ Kūn zài túshūguǎn kànshū.

Li Kun is reading in the library.

她的坤包很时尚。

Tā de kūn bāo hěn shíshàng.

Her women's bag is very fashionable.

乾坤代表天地。

Qiánkūn dàibiǎo tiāndì.

Qiankun represents heaven and earth.

张坤和李坤是同学。

Zhāng Kūn hé Lǐ Kūn shì tóngxué.

Zhang Kun and Li Kun are classmates.

在易经中，坤是地的象征。

Zài Yìjīng zhōng, kūn shì dì de xiàngzhēng.

In the I Ching, kun is the symbol of earth.

坤宁宫位于故宫的中轴线上。

Kūnníng Gōng wèiyú Gùgōng de zhōngzhóuxiàn shàng.

Kunning Palace is located on the central axis of the Forbidden City.

理解乾坤的概念有助于掌握传统文化。

Lǐjiě qiánkūn de gàiniàn yǒu zhù yú zhǎngwò chuántǒng wénhuà.

Understanding the concept of qiankun helps in mastering traditional culture.

Related Characters

Component: 土

Component: 申

坤