缘

緣

yuán

彖 + 纟

Definitions

yuán (noun) fate; predestined affinity; karma

yuán (noun) cause; reason

yuán (noun) edge; margin; hem

yuán (preposition) along

Etymology phono-semantic

thread

Semantic: 纟 Phonetic: 彖

About

缘, the simplified form of 緣, combines the silk radical 纟 (traditional 糹) on the left with the phonetic component 彖 on the right, which depicts a pig's head. The silk radical hints at a textile origin: the character originally denoted the hem, border, or decorative edge of clothing. From this literal edge, the meaning expanded to the metaphorical thread linking two entities, giving rise to abstract notions of predestined relationships, karmic bonds, logical reason, and the cause or basis behind an event.

Etymology Hide

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 Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们很有缘分。

Wǒmen hěn yǒu yuánfèn.

We are very fated.

边缘地区需要发展。

Biānyuán dìqū xūyào fāzhǎn.

Border areas need development.

他无缘参加这次比赛。

Tā wúyuán cānjiā zhè cì bǐsài.

He has no chance to participate in this competition.

血缘关系很重要。

Xuèyuán guānxì hěn zhòngyào.

Blood relationship is very important.

他们因工作结缘。

Tāmen yīn gōngzuò jiéyuán.

They formed a relationship because of work.

机缘巧合之下，我们相遇了。

Jīyuán qiǎohé zhī xià, wǒmen xiāngyù le.

By chance, we met.

这段姻缘是上天安排的。

Zhè duàn yīnyuán shì shàngtiān ānpái de.

This marriage is arranged by heaven.

无缘无故地生气是不好的。

Wúyuán wúgù de shēngqì shì bù hǎo de.

Getting angry for no reason is not good.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 彖

Component: 纟

缘