Definitions

yuán shaft of a cart or carriage; (bound form) entrance gate of a military camp or yamen; (fig.) government office

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 辕, with its traditional form 轅, is structurally composed of the semantic component 車 (chariot, vehicle) and the phonetic component 袁. Its core meaning has consistently pertained to the long poles extending from either side of an animal-drawn vehicle, such as a chariot or carriage, which are used for harnessing. This primary definition is directly indicated by the 車 component. Over time, the term's application broadened slightly to also refer to the outer gate of a government office or a military headquarters, drawing an analogical connection to the functional role of a vehicle's shafts as a point of control and entry.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

马车车坏了。

Mǎchē chē yuán huài le.

The carriage shaft is broken.

他修好了马车的车

Tā xiū hǎo le mǎchē de chē yuán.

He fixed the carriage's shaft.

上挂着一盏灯。

Chē yuán shàng guà zhe yī zhǎn dēng.

A lantern is hanging on the shaft.

士兵们守在门外。

Shìbīng men shǒu zài yuán mén wài.

The soldiers are guarding outside the camp gate.

古代战车都有坚固车

Gǔdài zhànchē dōu yǒu jiāngù chē yuán.

Ancient chariots all have sturdy shafts.

黄帝是中华始祖。

Xuān Yuán Huángdì shì Zhōnghuá shǐzǔ.

Emperor Xuanyuan is the ancestor of the Chinese nation.

因为车断裂马车停了。

Yīnwèi chē yuán duànliè mǎchē tíng le.

The carriage stopped because the shaft snapped.

制造马车时车选材关键。

Zhìzào mǎchē shí chē yuán xuǎncái guānjiàn.

When building a carriage, shaft material selection is crucial.