况

況

kuàng

兄 + 冫

Definitions

kuàng (adverb) moreover; furthermore

kuàng (noun) situation; state

Etymology

Simplified form of 況. Phonosemantic compound. 冫 represents the meaning and 兄 represents the sound.

About

况 is the simplified equivalent of the traditional character 況. In its traditional form, 況 was a phono-semantic compound: the water radical 氵 on the left indicated the original meaning "cold water", and the component 兄 (older brother) on the right provided the pronunciation. This literal meaning disappeared when the character was borrowed purely for its sound to represent "situation", "condition", or "moreover". The simplified 况 swaps the water radical for the ice radical 冫, which also relates to cold, aligning the semantic component with the character's early sense. Consequently, 况 is a phono-semantic compound where 冫 conveys meaning and 兄 indicates the sound.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

情况很复杂。

Qíngkuàng hěn fùzá.

The situation is very complicated.

何况今天还下雨。

Hékuàng jīntiān hái xià yǔ.

Moreover, it's raining today.

况且他也不在家。

Kuàngqiě tā yě bù zài jiā.

Besides, he is not at home.

我身体状况良好。

Wǒ shēntǐ qíngkuàng liánghǎo.

My physical condition is good.

这种情况很少见。

Zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng hěn shǎo jiàn.

This kind of situation is rare.

何况你已经尽力了。

Hékuàng nǐ yǐjīng jìnlìle.

Especially since you have already tried your best.

现实情况比预想的困难。

Xiànshí qíngkuàng bǐ yùxiǎng de kùnnan.

The actual situation is more difficult than imagined.

她尚且没有把握，何况我们这些新手。

Tā shàngqiě méiyǒu bǎwò, hékuàng wǒmen zhèxiē xīnshǒu.

Even she is not confident, let alone us beginners.

Related Characters

Component: 兄

Component: 冫

况