Definitions
(noun)
comet; broom
Etymology
Pictograph of a hand holding a broom.
About
The character 彗, whose traditional form is the same, originally depicted two hands holding a tool made of bundled bamboo strips, representing a broom. This pictographic origin gave it the core meaning of "to sweep", which is preserved in some classical texts and in the compound 彗星, meaning "broom star". Over time, the character's primary association shifted decisively from the earthly implement to the celestial phenomenon, as the trailing tail of a comet was visually likened to the sweeping motion of a broom. Structurally, it serves as a phonetic component in other characters, such as 慧 (wisdom), while its own composition clearly illustrates its tangible, manual beginnings before its meaning was projected skyward to describe the sweeping celestial bodies.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
昨晚我看到了彗星。
彗星拖着长长的尾巴。
科学家正在研究这颗彗星。
彗星每七十六年回归一次。
通过望远镜观察彗星很有趣。
这颗彗星的轨道非常椭圆。
彗星主要由冰和尘埃组成。
天文学家预测彗星将在下周最亮。