闪

閃

shǎn

人 + 门

HSK 3.0Level 6

Frequency#1113

Definitions

shǎn (verb) to dodge; to duck out of the way

shǎn (noun) flash; lightning; spark

shǎn (verb) to flash; to glint

shǎn (verb) to sprain; to pull (a muscle)

Etymology

Simplified form of 閃. Depicts a person (人) peeking through the space in the middle of a door (门). Based on the original meaning "peek". The meaning later shifted to "dodge" and "flash".

About

The character "闪" originates from its traditional form "閃", which structurally integrates the door radical "門" with the component "人" for person, depicting an individual moving rapidly through a doorway. This composition initially conveyed the notion of a sudden or brief appearance, from which the primary meaning of to flash or gleam emerged. Over time, the character's semantic scope broadened to include actions such as dodging or evading, reflecting a similar sense of quick motion, and it is employed in terms related to lightning or instantaneous phenomena. The simplified form retains this conceptual framework with the simplified door radical "门" alongside the unchanged "人" component.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

闪电照亮了夜空。

Shǎndiàn zhàoliàng le yèkōng.

Lightning illuminated the night sky.

星星在闪烁。

Xīngxing zài shǎnshuò.

The stars are twinkling.

他迅速闪开了。

Tā xùnsù shǎnkāi le.

He quickly dodged.

她的眼睛闪耀着光芒。

Tā de yǎnjīng shǎnyào zhe guāngmáng.

Her eyes are shining with light.

一个想法突然闪现。

Yī gè xiǎngfǎ tūrán shǎnxiàn.

An idea suddenly flashed.

他试图闪躲对方的攻击。

Tā shìtú shǎnduǒ duìfāng de gōngjī.

He tried to dodge the opponent's attack.

闪光灯照亮了整个房间。

Shǎnguāngdēng zhàoliàng le zhěnggè fángjiān.

The flashlight illuminated the entire room.

那颗宝石在灯光下闪亮。

Nà kē bǎoshí zài dēngguāng xià shǎnliàng.

That gemstone is shiny under the light.

Related Characters

Component: 人

Component: 门

闪