About
The character 藩 (fān) is a phono-semantic compound with the grass radical 艹 (cǎo) on top, indicating a connection to plants, and the phonetic component 潘 (pān) below. Originally, it meant a physical hedge or fence made from woven vegetation, serving as a barrier to enclose or protect an area. This protective function led to an extended meaning in political contexts, referring to vassal states, border territories, or buffer regions that shielded a central empire. Historically, 藩 thus evolved from describing a botanical barrier to denoting a geopolitical one.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
花园周围有藩篱。
古代中国有藩属国。
藩镇割据导致唐朝衰落。
他的思想突破传统藩篱。
藩王势力过大威胁中央政权。
为了巩固统治，皇帝削弱了藩镇的权力。
藩属制度在明清时期逐渐完善。
藩篱不仅指物理屏障，也比喻心理隔阂。