县

縣

xiàn

且 + 厶

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

xiàn (noun) county

Etymology

Simplified form of 縣. Pictograph of a severed head (首) hanging on a rope (系) from a tree (木). Based on the original meaning "hang" or "suspend". The current meaning is a phonetic loan. The traditional component 系 was removed for simplification.

About

县 is the simplified form of 縣, which originally depicted a severed head hanging upside down from a tree, a form of public execution. The traditional character combines an inverted head (representing the severed head) with 系 (silk), indicating the rope. Its original meaning, "to hang" or "suspend", is now written as 悬. The character was later borrowed phonetically to designate a local administrative district, becoming the standard term for a county below the provincial level. The simplified form 县 removes the 系 component.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze 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)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他在县城工作。

Tā zài xiànchéng gōngzuò.

He works in the county town.

这个县的风景很美丽。

Zhège xiàn de fēngjǐng hěn měilì.

The scenery of this county is very beautiful.

县长亲自下乡考察。

Xiànzhǎng qīnzì xiàxiāng kǎochá.

The county magistrate personally went to the countryside to inspect.

我来自中国的一个小县城。

Wǒ láizì Zhōngguó de yī gè xiǎo xiànchéng.

I come from a small county town in China.

这个县以盛产优质水果而闻名。

Zhège xiàn yǐ shèngchǎn yōuzhì shuǐguǒ ér wénmíng.

This county is famous for producing high-quality fruit.

省政府批准了该县的新发展规划。

Shěng zhèngfǔ pīzhǔn le gāi xiàn de xīn fāzhǎn guīhuà.

The provincial government approved the new development plan for that county.

经过行政区划调整，这个镇已经升级为县。

Jīngguò xíngzhèng qūhuà tiáozhěng, zhège zhèn yǐjīng shēngjí wéi xiàn.

After administrative division adjustments, this town has been upgraded to a county.

两个相邻的县在经济发展模式上形成了鲜明对比。

Liǎng gè xiānglín de xiàn zài jīngjì fāzhǎn móshì shàng xíngchéng le xiānmíng duìbì.

Two neighboring counties have formed a sharp contrast in their economic development models.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 且

Component: 厶

Example Words