About
The character "阉", derived from its traditional form "閹", is structurally composed of the semantic radical "門" (door) and the phonetic component "奄". Etymologically, it originally denoted a gatekeeper or an individual charged with overseeing a gate, but its meaning narrowed over time to refer specifically to eunuchs, who were often employed as guards or servants within palace gates and inner quarters. This specialization in meaning reflects the historical context where eunuchs were associated with confined imperial spaces, with the character's components highlighting this link to enclosure and access control. The simplified form "阉" maintains this basic construction with the simplified door radical "门", while the term's semantic focus shifted entirely to castrated men serving in court, abandoning its earlier, more general application.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他们阉了那只公鸡。
为了控制繁殖，农场主阉割了母猪。
在古代，阉人被用作太监。
阉割过程需要专业兽医操作。
如果不阉割，这只公猫会到处标记领地。
有些人反对阉割宠物，认为这不人道。
阉鸡的肉质更为柔嫩，因此更受欢迎。
尽管阉割有诸多争议，但它仍是控制动物数量的有效方法。