玺

璽

xǐ

尔 + 玉

Definitions

xǐ ruler's seal

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 玉 represents the meaning and 尔 represents the sound. Simplified form of 璽.

Semantic: 玉 Phonetic: 尔

About

A phono-semantic compound, 玺 combines the phonetic 尔 on top with the jade radical 玉 below, indicating precious stone. The traditional form 璽 uses the unsimplified phonetic 爾. The character means an official or imperial seal used to authenticate state documents and decrees, historically carved from fine jade, which the bottom component reflects. Its use is confined to historical contexts, imperial artifacts, and formal terms for sovereign authority.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Wu (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这块玉玺非常古老。

Zhè kuài yùxǐ fēicháng gǔlǎo.

This jade seal is very ancient.

玉玺是古代皇帝的印章。

Yùxǐ shì gǔdài huángdì de yìnzhāng.

The imperial seal was the stamp of ancient emperors.

博物馆里陈列着一方金玺。

Bówùguǎn lì chénliè zhe yì fāng jīn xǐ.

A golden seal is on display in the museum.

他在古籍中读到了传国玉玺的故事。

Tā zài gǔjí zhōng dú dào le chuánguó yùxǐ de gùshi.

He read about the story of the Heirloom Seal in ancient texts.

考古学家希望能找到失踪的玉玺。

Kǎogǔ xuéjiā xīwàng néng zhǎodào shīzōng de yùxǐ.

Archaeologists hope to find the missing imperial seal.

这方玉玺的发现震惊了历史学界。

Zhè fāng yùxǐ de fāxiàn zhènjīng le lìshǐ xuéjiè.

The discovery of this imperial seal shocked the historical academia.

玉玺不仅是一件文物，更是权力的象征。

Yùxǐ bùjǐn shì yí jiàn wénwù, gèng shì quánlì de xiàngzhēng.

The imperial seal is not only a cultural relic but also a symbol of power.

经过专家鉴定，这方玺印确属秦代文物。

Jīngguò zhuānjiā jiàndìng, zhè fāng xǐ yìn què shǔ Qín dài wénwù.

After appraisal by experts, this seal was confirmed to be a cultural relic from the Qin dynasty.

Related Characters

Component: 尔

Component: 玉

Example Words