Definitions

tiǎn to end; to exterminate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Originally written as 𠂈.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

(tiǎn) is a phonosemantic compound: the radical (dǎi, 'death, decay') supplies the meaning of destruction or perishing, while (zhěn) indicates the pronunciation. Its earliest written form was 𠂈. The character denotes extermination, extinction, or complete eradication, and classical texts frequently use it to describe the wiping out of a lineage or the annihilation of enemies.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern