柬

jiǎn

Definitions

jiǎn (noun) letter; note; card

jiǎn (verb) select; choose

Jiǎn (noun) Cambodia (abbreviation)

Etymology

Two dots added to 束 (bind; bunch). Based on the original meaning "condense, select", now written as 揀. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

About

柬 is formed by adding two dots (八) inside 束, a character depicting a tied bundle. These marks signal the act of picking out or selecting items, yielding the original meaning "to select", a sense now represented by 揀. The modern use of 柬 for "letter", "visiting card", or "invitation" is a phonetic loan, unrelated to its structure.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

请柬放在桌子上。

Qǐng jiǎn fàng zài zhuō zi shàng.

The invitation card is on the table.

柬埔寨是一个国家。

Jiǎn pǔ zhài shì yī gè guó jiā.

Cambodia is a country.

我们需要准备请柬。

Wǒ men xū yào zhǔn bèi qǐng jiǎn.

We need to prepare invitation cards.

柬埔寨有悠久的历史。

Jiǎn pǔ zhài yǒu yōu jiǔ de lì shǐ.

Cambodia has a long history.

请柬的设计很精美。

Qǐng jiǎn de shè jì hěn jīng měi.

The design of the invitation card is very exquisite.

柬帖已经发出去了。

Jiǎn tiě yǐ jīng fā chū qù le.

The invitation notes have already been sent out.

柬埔寨的首都是金边。

Jiǎn pǔ zhài de shǒu dū shì jīn biān.

The capital of Cambodia is Phnom Penh.

我们打算下个月去柬埔寨旅游。

Wǒ men dǎ suàn xià gè yuè qù jiǎn pǔ zhài lǚ yóu.

We plan to travel to Cambodia next month.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 柬

柬