扇

shān, shàn

户 + 羽

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

shān (verb) to fan; to slap (on the face)

shàn (noun) fan

shàn (noun) door panel; window panel

shàn (particle) measure word for doors, windows, etc.

Etymology

A feathered 羽 fan in the shape of a folding door 户

About

An ideogramic compound, 扇 combines 户 (a folding door) and 羽 (feathers) to depict a feathered fan that opens like a door. This design recalls early fans or woven door-screens made of feathers, which blocked wind and sunlight while allowing air to pass through. The character primarily means a hand-held fan, but it can also be a verb meaning to fan or incite, and a measure word for flat, panel-like objects that pivot on hinges, such as doors, windows, and screens.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我有一把漂亮的扇子。

Wǒ yǒu yī bǎ piàoliang de shànzi.

I have a beautiful fan.

他扇了扇扇子。

Tā shānle shān shànzi.

He fanned the fan.

扇子扇动的风很凉快。

Shànzi shāndòng de fēng hěn liángkuai.

The wind fanned by the fan is very cool.

扇形是一种几何图形。

Shànxíng shì yī zhǒng jǐhé túxíng.

A sector is a type of geometric shape.

他用扇子轻轻地扇着蜡烛。

Tā yòng shànzi qīngqīng de shānzhe làzhú.

He gently fans the candle with a fan.

扇叶的转动带来了微风。

Shànyè de zhuàndòng dàiláile wēifēng.

The rotation of the fan blades brings a breeze.

她扇动翅膀，飞向了天空。

Tā shāndòng chìbǎng, fēi xiàngle tiānkōng.

She flapped her wings and flew into the sky.

这场演讲扇起了群众的热情。

Zhè chǎng yǎnjiǎng shān qǐle qúnzhòng de rèqíng.

This speech ignited the passion of the crowd.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 户

Component: 羽

扇