Definitions
(noun)
prefecture; province; state
Etymology
Depicts an area of dry land in the middle of a river.
About
The character 州 is built on 川 'river', with three strokes added between its vertical lines to represent dry land, sandbars or islets, emerging from the water. Originally, it referred to these habitable landmasses within a river. As early administrative systems began organizing populations around such fertile and strategic locations, the meaning shifted from the physical islets to the governing districts that formed around them. Over time, its scope expanded to include prefectures, provinces, and even entire continents. This evolution transformed 州 from a concrete geographic landmark into a fundamental term in Chinese political geography.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我住在加州。
广州天气很热。
苏州园林很美丽。
杭州以西湖闻名。
这个州有很多人口。
他来自德克萨斯州。
美国有五十个州。
州政府发布了新政策。
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