姻

婣

yīn

因 + 女

Definitions

yīn (noun) marriage connections; marriage ties

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 因 represents the sound.

About

姻 is a phono-semantic compound combining the semantic radical 女 ('woman' or 'female') on the left with the phonetic component 因 (yīn) on the right, which supplies the sound. The character pertains to marriage. Originally, it denoted the groom's family, then extended to designate all relatives by marriage, in-laws, as opposed to blood kin. Although 因 by itself means 'cause' or 'to rely on', here it serves only as a phonetic marker. Today, 姻 appears chiefly in compounds like 婚姻 (marriage) and 姻亲 (in-law relations), referring to wedlock, the legal and social bonds of marriage, and the intricate network of in-laws that such unions produce.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他们的婚姻很幸福。

Tāmen de hūnyīn hěn xìngfú.

Their marriage is very happy.

婚姻需要经营。

Hūnyīn xūyào jīngyíng.

Marriage requires effort.

她相信姻缘天注定。

Tā xiāngxìn yīnyuán tiān zhùdìng.

She believes that marital fate is destined by heaven.

这两个家族打算联姻。

Zhè liǎng gè jiāzú dǎsuàn liányīn.

These two families plan to form a marriage alliance.

姻亲关系有时很复杂。

Yīnqīn guānxì yǒushí hěn fùzá.

In-law relationships can sometimes be complicated.

他们的婚姻遇到了挑战。

Tāmen de hūnyīn yù dàole tiǎozhàn.

Their marriage encountered challenges.

在古代，联姻常用于政治目的。

Zài gǔdài, liányīn cháng yòng yú zhèngzhì mùdì.

In ancient times, marriage alliances were often used for political purposes.

这段姻缘是经过多年努力才实现的。

Zhè duàn yīnyuán shì jīngguò duōnián nǔlì cái shíxiàn de.

This marital fate was realized after many years of effort.

Related Characters

Component: 因

Component: 女

姻