Definitions
non-Han people, esp. to the East of China; barbarians; to wipe out; to exterminate; to tear down; to raze
Etymology
Originally depicted a rope wrapped around an arrow. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
About
The character "夷" initially denoted eastern tribes in early Chinese records, with its structure combining the components "大" representing a person and "弓" for a bow, implying a figure associated with archery. From this ethnic reference, the term's meaning broadened to include the concept of "flat" or "to level", as evident in compounds like "夷平", while also developing the sense of "to exterminate" or "raze" in certain historical and literary contexts, marking a semantic expansion over time.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我们去夷陵区旅行。
历史书中提到了夷洲。
古代中国有东夷部落。
战争夷平了那座城市。
这个地方曾经是夷狄之地。
他们试图夷灭敌人的势力。
夷族之祸在古代很残酷。
考古学家发现了夷人的遗址。