About
The character "葵", which has maintained a consistent structure with its grass radical (艹) atop the component "癸", originally denoted a category of plants that track the sun, a definition clearly preserved in the modern word for sunflower, "向日葵". Its etymology is connected to the phonetic element "癸", which may carry connotations of measurement or orientation, hinting at the plant's observed heliotropic nature. Over time, the semantic scope of "葵" broadened beyond its initial specific reference to encompass various large-leaved, leafy plants, particularly those of the mallow family, such as "锦葵" (common mallow) and "秋葵" (okra). This expansion in meaning shifted the character from describing a specific solar-aligned behavior to serving as a more general botanical classifier for plants with certain similar physical characteristics, while its most iconic association with the sun-turning flower remained central.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
向日葵很漂亮。
葵花籽很好吃。
花园里种了许多向日葵。
妈妈用葵花籽油做饭。
蒲葵的叶子可以用来做扇子。
向日葵总是朝着太阳生长。
在炎热的夏天，葵扇能带来凉风。
葵花的金黄色花瓣在阳光下闪闪发光。