欧

歐

ōu

区 + 欠

Definitions

Ōu (noun) Europe

ōu (particle) used for transliteration

Etymology

Simplified form of 歐. Phonosemantic compound. 欠 represents the meaning and 區 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "vomit". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

About

欧 is the simplified form of the traditional character "歐" and functions as a phono-semantic compound. The semantic component on the right is 欠 (qiàn, depicting an open mouth, yawning, or exhaling), hinting at its original meaning of "to vomit". The left component, 区 (qū), is a simplification of "區" and provides the pronunciation. The character's original meaning referred to something expelled from the mouth, but this usage is now obsolete. Today, it is primarily used as a phonetic loanword representing the first syllable of "Europe", serving as the standard abbreviation for the European continent, European culture, as well as a Chinese surname.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

欧洲有很多国家。

Ōuzhōu yǒu hěnduō guójiā.

Europe has many countries.

欧元是欧洲的货币。

Ōuyuán shì Ōuzhōu de huòbì.

The Euro is the currency of Europe.

我喜欢欧洲的风景。

Wǒ xǐhuān Ōuzhōu de fēngjǐng.

I like the scenery of Europe.

他计划明年去欧洲旅行。

Tā jìhuà míngnián qù Ōuzhōu lǚxíng.

He plans to travel to Europe next year.

欧洲文化历史悠久而丰富。

Ōuzhōu wénhuà lìshǐ yōujiǔ ér fēngfù.

European culture has a long and rich history.

这家公司主要面向欧洲市场。

Zhè jiā gōngsī zhǔyào miànxiàng Ōuzhōu shìchǎng.

This company mainly targets the European market.

欧盟由多个欧洲国家组成。

Ōuméng yóu duō gè Ōuzhōu guójiā zǔchéng.

The European Union is composed of many European countries.

欧洲文艺复兴对世界影响深远。

Ōuzhōu wényì fùxīng duì shìjiè yǐngxiǎng shēnyuǎn.

The European Renaissance had a profound impact on the world.

Related Characters

Component: 区

Component: 欠

欧