摄

攝

shè

扌 + 聂

Definitions

shè (verb) to take a photo; to photograph

shè (verb) to absorb; to assimilate

shè (verb) to act on behalf of

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 聂 represents the sound. Simplified form of 攝.

Semantic: 扌 Phonetic: 聂

About

摄 is the simplified form of 攝, a phono-semantic compound: 扌 (hand) indicates the meaning, and 聂 represents the sound. The traditional phonetic 聶 stacked three 耳 (ear) elements, suggesting whispers gathering, and the simplified 聂 condenses this to 耳 and 双. Its original meaning was to gather, pinch, or pull together. This later extended to acting as a proxy or substitute for someone in an official capacity. In modern Chinese, it has also come to mean absorbing and the taking of photographs or video.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我非常喜欢摄影。

Wǒ fēicháng xǐhuān shèyǐng.

I really like photography.

身体需要摄取营养。

Shēntǐ xūyào shèqǔ yíngyǎng.

The body needs to absorb nutrients.

他们正在摄制电影。

Tāmen zhèngzài shèzhì diànyǐng.

They are producing a film.

他用摄像机摄像。

Tā yòng shèxiàngjī shèxiàng.

He uses a camera to record video.

动物必须摄食才能生存。

Dòngwù bìxū shèshí cáinéng shēngcún.

Animals must eat to survive.

国王年幼时由摄政王执政。

Guówáng niányòu shí yóu shèzhèngwáng zhízhèng.

When the king was young, the regent ruled.

行星的轨道受到摄动影响。

Xíngxīng de guǐdào shòudào shèdòng yǐngxiǎng.

The orbits of planets are affected by perturbations.

注重摄养可以延年益寿。

Zhùzhòng shèyǎng kěyǐ yánnián yìshòu.

Paying attention to maintenance can prolong life.

Related Characters

Component: 扌

Component: 聂

摄