甸

diàn

勹 + 田

Definitions

diàn (noun) suburbs; outskirts

diàn (noun) field; farmland (archaic)

Etymology

Same in origin to 佃. Depicts a person (勹) working in the fields (田). 田 also represents the sound. The meaning later shifted to "crops" and "suburbs of capital".

Semantic: 勹 Phonetic: 田

About

Originally the same character as 佃, 甸 combines 勹 (a person) and 田 (field), depicting someone working the land; 田 also indicates the sound. Its meaning shifted to "crops" and later to the "suburbs of a capital", the agricultural outskirts that supplied the city. Historically, these suburban lands were often royal domains where taxes were collected and military training took place.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

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

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个包裹沉甸甸的。

Zhège bāoguǒ chéndiàndiàn de.

This package is very heavy.

他的手里提着沉甸甸的箱子。

Tā de shǒu lǐ tízhe chéndiàndiàn de xiāngzi.

He is carrying a heavy box in his hand.

缅甸是东南亚的一个国家。

Miǎndiàn shì dōngnányà de yī gè guójiā.

Myanmar is a country in Southeast Asia.

窗外是绿油油的草甸。

Chuāng wài shì lǜyóuyóu de cǎodiàn.

Outside the window is a lush green meadow.

传说中伊甸园是人间乐园。

Chuánshuō zhōng Yìdiànyuán shì rénjiān lèyuán.

In legend, the Garden of Eden is an earthly paradise.

这片甸子适合放牧牲畜。

Zhè piàn diànzi shìhé fàngmù shēngchù.

This pastureland is suitable for grazing livestock.

他的工作范围包括厂区和生活甸区。

Tā de gōngzuò fànwéi bāokuò chǎngqū hé shēnghuó diànqū.

His work scope includes the factory area and the residential district.

该地区的甸土主要由河流冲积而成。

Gāi dìqū de diàntǔ zhǔyào yóu héliú chōngjī ér chéng.

The paddy soil in this region is mainly formed by river alluviation.

Related Characters

Component: 勹

Component: 田

甸