掖

yē, yè

夜 + 扌

Definitions

yē to tuck (into a pocket); to hide; to conceal

yè to support by the arm; to help; to promote; at the side; also pr. [yì]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 夜 represents the sound.

Semantic: 扌 Phonetic: 夜

About

掖 is a phono-semantic compound: the left-side hand radical 扌 indicates actions performed with the hands or arms, and the right-side component 夜 (meaning night) serves exclusively as the phonetic marker. The character has two distinct pronunciations and associated meanings. Pronounced yè, it refers to the side of the body or armpit, extending metaphorically to the action of supporting or assisting someone by the arm. Pronounced yē, it describes the physical action of tucking something in, such as folding a piece of cloth and securing it into a pocket or waistband using one's hands.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她小心地掖了掖被角。

Tā xiǎoxīn de yē le yē bèi jiǎo.

She carefully tucked in the quilt corner.

他把文件掖在书本下面。

Tā bǎ wénjiàn yē zài shūběn xiàmiàn.

He tucked the documents under the book.

我掖好衬衫准备出门。

Wǒ yē hǎo chènshān zhǔnbèi chūmén.

I tucked in my shirt and prepared to go out.

孩子掖着玩具不肯放手。

Háizi yē zhe wánjù bù kěn fàng shǒu.

The child tucked the toy away and refused to let go.

他藏掖着一些秘密。

Tā cáng yē zhe yīxiē mìmì.

He is hiding some secrets.

为了保暖，他把裤脚掖进袜子里。

Wèile bǎonuǎn, tā bǎ kùjiǎo yē jìn wàzi lǐ.

To keep warm, he tucked his pants into his socks.

掖县是山东的一个地方。

Yè Xiàn shì Shāndōng de yīgè dìfāng.

Yexian is a place in Shandong.

在历史中，掖庭是皇宫的一部分。

Zài lìshǐ zhōng, yètíng shì huánggōng de yī bùfèn.

In history, the Yeting was part of the imperial palace.

Related Characters

Component: 夜

Component: 扌

掖