Definitions

yuán (noun) long robe

Etymology

Depicts a hand () putting on clothes (). Based on the original meaning "get into armor", now written as . A circle () was later added in the middle to indicate the sound.

About

The character 袁, in its traditional form, originates from a pictographic representation of a long garment, with its upper component depicting clothing and the lower component likely serving as a phonetic indicator. Over time, its core association shifted away from the concrete object of clothing and became almost exclusively used as a surname, a function it has maintained for millennia. Its structural composition, consisting of the clothing radical (衤 in its variant form) combined with the element suggesting its ancient pronunciation, has remained consistent in its traditional iteration. While the original semantic connection to garments is now opaque in modern usage, the character persists primarily as a common family name, carrying this singular meaning through historical texts and into contemporary use without significant alteration to its fundamental role.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的朋友姓

Wǒ de péngyou xìng Yuán.

My friend's surname is Yuan.

先生是老师。

Yuán xiānsheng shì lǎoshī.

Mr. Yuan is a teacher.

小姐来自北京。

Yuán xiǎojiě lái zì Běijīng.

Miss Yuan comes from Beijing.

教授教我们数学。

Yuán jiàoshòu jiāo wǒmen shùxué.

Professor Yuan teaches us mathematics.

叔叔经常帮助邻居。

Yuán shūshu jīngcháng bāngzhù línjū.

Uncle Yuan often helps his neighbors.

去年阿姨去了上海。

Qùnián Yuán āyí qùle Shànghǎi.

Last year, Aunt Yuan went to Shanghai.

因为爷爷生病了,所以我们去看他。

Yīnwèi Yuán yéye shēngbìngle, suǒyǐ wǒmen qù kàn tā.

Because Grandpa Yuan is sick, we went to visit him.

博士的研究成果对农业有重大贡献。

Yuán bóshì de yánjiū chéngguǒ duì nóngyè yǒu zhòngdà gòngxiàn.

Dr. Yuan's research achievements have made significant contributions to agriculture.