Definitions

shēn surname Shen
shēn long; numerous
xīn Asarum; Wild ginger; also 細辛|细辛[xì xīn]

Etymology phono-semantic

plant

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is a phono-semantic compound combining the plant radical (categorizing it among grasses and herbs) with the phonetic . Its original meaning was a specific medicinal herb. The character later extended to describe things that are numerous, long, or lush, especially crowds or thriving vegetation, and it also functions as a surname and historical place name.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern