Definitions

city; village

Etymology

Pictograph of a person () outside a city wall (). Appears as a component in the right side of characters as ⻏.

About

The character "邑" originated from early pictographic representations of a walled settlement, and its modern structure consists of the enclosure component "口" combined with "巴". Initially denoting a fortified town or city, its meaning broadened to refer to cities and administrative districts more generally. In the writing system, it serves as a radical for characters associated with locations, such as "都" and "邦", reflecting its consistent thematic link to inhabited places. The character's form underwent graphical simplification over centuries, settling into its current configuration while retaining its core semantic focus on settlements.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
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)
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)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我去过县。

Wǒ qùguò yì xiàn.

I have been to Yi County.

县的风光很迷人。

Yì xiàn de fēngguāng hěn mírén.

The scenery of Yi County is very charming.

这个镇历史悠久。

Zhège yì zhèn lìshǐ yōujiǔ.

This town has a long history.

里的居民很热情。

Yì lǐ de jūmín hěn rèqíng.

The residents in the town are very enthusiastic.

他来自一个古老的

Tā láizì yīgè gǔlǎo de yì.

He comes from an ancient town.

我们在中建了新学校。

Wǒmen zài yì zhōng jiànle xīn xuéxiào.

We built a new school in the town.

县的经济发展很快。

Yì xiàn de jīngjì fāzhǎn hěn kuài.

The economic development of Yi County is very fast.

这个曾经是商业中心。

Zhège yì céngjīng shì shāngyè zhōngxīn.

This town was once a commercial center.