阀

閥

fá

伐 + 门

Definitions

fá (noun) valve

fá (noun) powerful family; influential group

Etymology phono-semantic

gate

Semantic: 门 Phonetic: 伐

About

阀 (simplified) and 閥 (traditional) are phono-semantic compound characters. The outer radical, 门 or 門, serves as the semantic component meaning a door or gateway, while the inner 伐 indicates the pronunciation. The original meaning of the character refers to a pillar, marker, or merit board erected in front of a gate to display a family's achievements, social status, or military accomplishments. Because only powerful and prominent families erected such markers, the meaning naturally extended to denote illustrious lineages, elite cliques, or dominant factions. In modern industrial terminology, it was borrowed as a phonetic and semantic translation for mechanical "valves", which are used to control the flow of fluids or gases.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个阀门已经坏了。

Zhège fá mén yǐjīng huài le.

This valve is already broken.

请检查一下那个阀门。

Qǐng jiǎnchá yīxià nàgè fá mén.

Please check that valve.

水阀需要定期维护。

Shuǐ fá xūyào dìngqī wéihù.

Water valves need regular maintenance.

军阀控制了那个地区。

Jūnfá kòngzhìle nàgè dìqū.

The warlord controlled that area.

财阀对经济有巨大影响。

Cáifá duì jīngjì yǒu jùdà yǐngxiǎng.

Financial cliques have a huge impact on the economy.

那个阀门工厂生产优质产品。

Nàgè fá mén gōngchǎng shēngchǎn yōuzhì chǎnpǐn.

That valve factory produces high-quality products.

在历史上，军阀割据是常见现象。

Zài lìshǐ shàng, jūnfá gējù shì chángjiàn xiànxiàng.

In history, warlord separatist rule was a common phenomenon.

这些财阀通过垄断市场获取利润。

Zhèxiē cáifá tōngguò lǒngduàn shìchǎng huòqǔ lìrùn.

These financial cliques obtain profits by monopolizing the market.

Related Characters

Component: 伐

Component: 门

阀