夏

xià

夂 + 𦣻

HSK 2.0Level 3

Definitions

xià (noun) summer

Xià (noun) the Xia dynasty (c. 2000 BC)

Etymology

Pictograph of a person, represented by their head (頁) and feet (夂), being heated underneath the sun (日). The sun component was later omitted for brevity during the Warring States period.

About

夏 originally depicted a person with a prominent head (頁) and feet (夂) standing under the sun (日), directly conveying the heat of summer. During the Warring States period, the sun component was omitted, leaving the modern structure: 𦣻 (head/face) above elements for hands, feet, or trailing robes. It first signified summer, and from this seasonal meaning was extended to name the Xia Dynasty and the people of the central plains, implying a grand, civilized society. Today it remains the standard character for the season.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 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 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

夏天天气很热。

Xiàtiān tiānqì hěn rè.

The weather in summer is very hot.

我喜欢夏天游泳。

Wǒ xǐhuān xiàtiān yóuyǒng.

I like swimming in summer.

夏天我们常去海边。

Xiàtiān wǒmen cháng qù hǎibiān.

We often go to the beach in summer.

每年的夏天都很漫长。

Měi nián de xiàtiān dōu hěn màncháng.

Every year, summer is very long.

夏季是旅游的好季节。

Xiàjì shì lǚyóu de hǎo jìjié.

Summer is a good season for travel.

夏天比春天温度高很多。

Xiàtiān bǐ chūntiān wēndù gāo hěnduō.

Summer is much hotter than spring.

如果夏天不下雨，我们就去野餐。

Rúguǒ xiàtiān bù xiàyǔ, wǒmen jiù qù yěcān.

If it doesn't rain in summer, we will go for a picnic.

尽管夏天炎热，但我还是喜欢它的阳光和活力。

Jǐnguǎn xiàtiān yánrè, dàn wǒ háishì xǐhuān tā de yángguāng hé huólì.

Although summer is hot, I still like its sunshine and vitality.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 夂

Component: 𦣻

Example Words