About
The character "艺", simplified from the traditional form "藝", derives from an early semantic concept of planting or cultivation, initially reflected in its structural composition that combined elements suggestive of tending to vegetation. Over time, its meaning extended from the concrete agricultural practice to the metaphorical nurturing of human capabilities, thus encompassing skills and techniques before solidifying into its modern primary sense relating to art and artistic endeavors. The traditional character's complex structure, which included components associated with growth and manual activity, was reduced in the simplified version to the plant radical "艹" over "乙", a phonetic simplification that retained the character's sound but obscured its original pictorial linkage to cultivation. This semantic evolution from a specific agrarian action to a broad category of creative and technical proficiency illustrates how the character's application shifted alongside cultural developments that elevated practical arts into refined disciplines.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他学习艺术。
这门手艺很实用。
她的表演艺术非常出色。
他多才多艺，受人欢迎。
园艺需要耐心和知识。
电影艺术综合了多种技术。
这个艺人的技艺是家传的。
当代艺术常常挑战传统观念。