Definitions

shàn (literary) to go through successive changes; to evolve

Etymology phono-semantic

woman

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "嬗" is structured with the "女" radical and the component "亶", which functions phonetically and semantically, the latter associated with concepts of fullness and sincerity. Etymologically, it originated from verbs denoting transmission or substitution, with early usage often applied to contexts of succession or replacement. Its meaning gradually expanded from specific transfer to indicate broader processes of change, now primarily used in compounds such as "嬗变" to express transformation or evolution. The character's form has consistently incorporated "亶", which anchors its identity within the lexicon.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern