疆

jiāng

土 + 弓 + 畺

Definitions

jiāng (noun) border; boundary

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 土 represents the meaning and 彊 represents the sound.

About

疆 is a phono-semantic compound combining the semantic component 土 (tǔ, 'earth') with the phonetic 彊 (jiāng). The phonetic itself consists of 弓 (gōng, 'bow') and 畺 (jiāng), which depicts two fields divided by boundary lines, together evoking the ancient practice of measuring land with a bow and marking clear divisions. The primary meaning is 'boundary,' 'border,' or 'frontier,' and by extension it came to refer to an entire territory, nation, or province defined by such limits.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

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 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)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

新疆是个美丽的地方。

Xīnjiāng shì gè měilì de dìfāng.

Xinjiang is a beautiful place.

战士们守卫着祖国的边疆。

Zhànshìmen shǒuwèi zhe zǔguó de biānjiāng.

Soldiers guard the border of the motherland.

中国的疆域十分辽阔。

Zhōngguó de jiāngyù shífēn liáokuò.

China's territory is very vast.

两国之间的疆界已经划定。

Liǎng guó zhī jiān de jiāngjiè yǐjīng huàdìng.

The boundary between the two countries has been demarcated.

古代帝国的疆土常常变化。

Gǔdài dìguó de jiāngtǔ chángcháng biànhuà.

The territory of ancient empires often changed.

这片广阔的疆域蕴藏着丰富的资源。

Zhè piàn guǎngkuò de jiāngyù yùncáng zhe fēngfù de zīyuán.

This vast territory contains abundant resources.

为了保卫国家的疆土，无数英雄献出了生命。

Wèile bǎowèi guójiā de jiāngtǔ, wúshù yīngxióng xiànchū le shēngmìng.

In order to defend the country's territory, countless heroes gave their lives.

通过和平谈判，两国最终解决了疆界争议。

Tōngguò hépíng tánpàn, liǎng guó zuìzhōng jiějué le jiāngjiè zhēngyì.

Through peaceful negotiations, the two countries finally resolved the border dispute.

Related Characters

Component: 土

Component: 弓

Component: 畺

Example Words