Definitions

chén (verb) to display; to exhibit; to present
chén (verb) to state; to explain; to tell
chén (adjective) old; stale

Etymology

Simplified form of . Composed of and . The purpose of is unclear.

About

陈, the simplified form of 陳, is a phono-semantic compound. Its semantic component is the left radical 阝, representing a mound or terrain, which originally connected the character to geographic locations or raised land. The phonetic component is the simplified right side 东 (dōng), replacing the traditional 東. Historically, the character described the arrangement of military chariots on a battlefield, a meaning that expanded to encompass the broader concepts of displaying, arranging, and stating. It can also denote something old or stale and is a very common Chinese surname.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Warring States (475-221 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)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
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 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 Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

先生是我的朋友。

Chén xiānsheng shì wǒ de péngyou.

Mr. Chen is my friend.

这本书的内容很旧。

Zhè běn shū de nèiróng hěn chénjiù.

The content of this book is very old.

他向我们述了事实。

Tā xiàng wǒmen chénshù le shìshí.

He stated the facts to us.

博物馆里列着许多文物。

Bówùguǎn lǐ chénliè zhe xǔduō wénwù.

Many cultural relics are displayed in the museum.

房间里的设很简单。

Fángjiān lǐ de chénshè hěn jiǎndān.

The furnishings in the room are very simple.

皮是一种常用的中药材。

Chénpí shì yī zhǒng chángyòng de zhōngyàocái.

Dried citrus peel is a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine.

这些年的酒味道很好。

Zhèxiē chénnián de jiǔ wèidào hěn hǎo.

These aged wines taste very good.

他的观点有些腐。

Tā de guāndiǎn yǒuxiē chénfǔ.

His views are somewhat stale.