Definitions

lín surname Lin
lín (literary) to select

Etymology phono-semantic

walk

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "遴" is structured with the movement radical ⻍ (辶) and the phonetic component "粦", originating from a concept of cautious or hesitant progression. Its early semantic field involved difficulty in advancing or acting, often applied in contexts of deliberative decision-making. Over time, this meaning concentrated specifically on the act of choosing with exacting care, leading to its modern primary sense of meticulous selection, exemplified in compounds like "遴选".

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
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)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern