轲

軻

kē, kě

可 + 车

Definitions

kē given name of Mencius

kě used in 轗軻|𫐘轲[kǎn kě]

Etymology phono-semantic

wheel

Semantic: 车 Phonetic: 可

About

轲 is the simplified form of 軻, a phono-semantic compound combining the cart radical 车 on the left with the phonetic 可 on the right. The radical places the character in the semantic field of vehicles, while 可 (meaning "able, permissible") functions purely as a pronunciation guide. Originally, 轲 referred to the axle connecting the two wheels of a cart, a sense now largely obsolete. In modern Chinese, the character is almost exclusively used as the given name of the philosopher Mencius (Meng Ke) and appears predominantly in historical and philosophical contexts.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

孟轲是古代哲学家。

Mèng Kē shì gǔdài zhéxuéjiā.

Mencius is an ancient philosopher.

我们学习了孟轲的思想。

Wǒmen xuéxí le Mèng Kē de sīxiǎng.

We studied Mencius's thoughts.

轲这个字不常见。

Kē zhège zì bù chángjiàn.

The character 轲 is not common.

他的名字里有一个轲字。

Tā de míngzì lǐ yǒu yī gè kē zì.

There is a character 轲 in his name.

孟轲的著作影响深远。

Mèng Kē de zhùzuò yǐngxiǎng shēnyuǎn.

Mencius's works have a profound influence.

这位同学名叫王轲。

Zhè wèi tóngxué míng jiào Wáng Kē.

This classmate is named Wang Ke.

轲在历史上代表孟子。

Kē zài lìshǐ shàng dàibiǎo Mèngzǐ.

Ke represents Mencius in history.

关于孟轲的辩论非常精彩。

Guānyú Mèng Kē de biànlùn fēicháng jīngcǎi.

The debate about Mencius was very exciting.

Related Characters

Component: 可

Component: 车

轲