晕

暈

yūn, yùn

军 + 日

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 6

Frequency#2215

Definitions

yūn (adjective) dizzy; giddy; faint

yūn (verb) to faint; to pass out

yùn (noun) halo; ring around moon or sun

Etymology

Simplified form of 暈. Depicts thin clouds surrounding the sun (日). The thin clouds were later replaced by the phonetic component 军. The meaning later shifted to "dizzy" and "faint".

Semantic: 日 Phonetic: 军

About

The character "晕" historically appears in the traditional form "暈", which combines the semantic component "日" (sun) with "軍" (army), the latter primarily serving a phonetic role. Its original meaning centered on the atmospheric phenomenon of a halo encircling the sun or moon. From this concrete visual reference, the term's meaning extended metaphorically to encompass the physical sensations of dizziness, faintness, and disorientation, a semantic shift that linked the visual disturbance of halos to the experience of bodily unsteadiness. The character's structure, with "日" remaining evident, continues to hint at its initial association with celestial light.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我今天有点头晕。

Wǒ jīntiān yǒudiǎn tóuyūn.

I feel a little dizzy today.

他经常晕车。

Tā jīngcháng yùnchē.

He often gets carsick.

坐船我会晕船。

Zuò chuán wǒ huì yùnchuán.

I get seasick when I take a boat.

她突然晕倒了。

Tā túrán yūndǎo le.

She suddenly fainted.

天气太热我有点晕。

Tiānqì tài rè wǒ yǒudiǎn yūn.

The weather is too hot, and I feel a bit dizzy.

看了很久电脑，我头很晕。

Kànle hěnjiǔ diànnǎo, wǒ tóu hěn yūn.

After looking at the computer for a long time, my head is very dizzy.

这个问题真让人晕。

Zhège wèntí zhēn ràng rén yūn.

This problem is really confusing.

连续工作十二个小时后，他晕倒在办公室。

Liánxù gōngzuò shí'èr gè xiǎoshí hòu, tā yūndǎo zài bàngōngshì.

After working continuously for twelve hours, he fainted in the office.

Related Characters

Component: 军

Component: 日

晕