Definitions
(verb)
to speak; to say
Etymology
Depicts a line, representing speech, coming out of a mouth (口).
About
The character "曰" originated as a pictographic representation of a mouth with a line emanating from it to signify speech, which over time stabilized into a form consisting of a mouth radical crossed by a horizontal stroke to visually convey the act of uttering words. It functioned broadly as a verb meaning "to say" in early Chinese, but its application gradually specialized to primarily introduce direct quotations or narrated speech within classical texts and historical documents. While retaining its core association with verbal expression, the character's contemporary use is now mostly confined to literary or formal settings, marking a shift from common vernacular usage to a more specialized rhetorical role.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
妈妈曰要早点睡觉。
他曰他喜欢读书。
昨天老师曰明天有考试。
她曰为什么不去公园？
爸爸曰如果下雨就不出门。
校长在会议上曰学生应该努力学习。
他曰虽然很忙但他会帮忙。
在报告中专家曰气候变化是严峻的挑战。