Definitions

xūn to scent tea with flowers; variant of 熏[xūn]
yìn cellar

Etymology phono-semantic

cave

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is a phono-semantic compound with two distinct readings and meanings. The (xué) "cave" radical at the top indicates an enclosed underground space, while the phonetic (yīn) sits below. Read as yìn, it directly reflects this sense: an underground cellar, basement, or chamber for storage or drainage. Read as xùn, it names the tea-scenting process, where leaves and fresh flowers are confined together so the leaves absorb the flowers' fragrance in that enclosed setting.

Etymology Hide

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