唇

脣

chún

口 + 辰

Definitions

chún (noun) lip

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 辰 represents the sound. Simplified form of 脣.

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 辰

About

唇 is a phonosemantic compound and the simplified form of the traditional 脣. The modern character uses 口 (mouth) to indicate the meaning and 辰 (chén) for the sound. In 脣, the semantic component was 肉 'meat' (written as 月 in compounds) marking it as a body part, while the phonetic 辰 remained on top. Replacing 肉 with 口 makes the connection to the lips more direct, as they are the fleshy edges around the mouth's opening. The character has consistently meant 'lips' and is used in words related to speech, kissing, and facial descriptions.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她的嘴唇很红。

Tā de zuǐchún hěn hóng.

Her lips are very red.

我买了新的唇膏。

Wǒ mǎi le xīn de chúngāo.

I bought new lipstick.

她喜欢用唇彩。

Tā xǐhuān yòng chúncǎi.

She likes to use lip gloss.

他会读唇语。

Tā huì dú chúnyǔ.

He can read lips.

唇裂可以手术治疗。

Chúnliè kěyǐ shǒushù zhìliáo.

Cleft lip can be treated with surgery.

玻璃上有一个唇印。

Bōli shàng yǒu yī gè chúnyìn.

There is a lip print on the glass.

唇部护理很重要。

Chúnbù hùlǐ hěn zhòngyào.

Lip care is very important.

当她笑的时候，她的嘴唇弯成了一道美丽的弧线。

Dāng tā xiào de shíhou, tā de zuǐchún wān chéng le yī dào měilì de húxiàn.

When she smiles, her lips curve into a beautiful arc.

Related Characters

Component: 口

Component: 辰

唇