陨

隕

yǔn

员 + 阝

Definitions

yǔn (bound form) to fall from the sky; variant of 殞|殒[yǔn]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 阝 represents the meaning and 员 represents the sound. Simplified form of 隕.

Semantic: 阝 Phonetic: 员

About

The character 陨 (yǔn) is a phonosemantic compound meaning to fall from a height, collapse, or drop. Its traditional form is 隕, combining the mound radical 阝 (fù) on the left, suggesting a hill, high place, or elevated terrain, with the phonetic element 員 (yuán) on the right. In the simplified version, the phonetic is reduced to 员 (yuán). The character is frequently used in astronomical contexts to describe meteors or meteorites plunging from the sky. In classical literature, it can denote the death or downfall of a prominent person, symbolizing a metaphorical fall from a lofty position.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

天上掉下陨石。

Tiānshàng diàoxià yǔnshí.

A meteorite fell from the sky.

陨石落在山里。

Yǔnshí luò zài shān lǐ.

The meteorite landed in the mountains.

昨晚有陨石坠落。

Zuó wǎn yǒu yǔnshí zhuìluò.

Last night, a meteorite fell.

那颗星星陨落了。

Nà kē xīngxīng yǔnluò le.

That star has fallen.

科学家研究陨石的成分。

Kēxuéjiā yánjiū yǔnshí de chéngfèn.

Scientists study the composition of meteorites.

陨石撞击地球导致灾难。

Yǔnshí zhuàngjí dìqiú dǎozhì zāinàn.

Meteorite impacts on Earth cause disasters.

帝国的陨落是不可避免的。

Dìguó de yǔnluò shì bùkě bìmiǎn de.

The fall of the empire is inevitable.

陨星划过夜空的光芒短暂而美丽。

Yǔnxīng huáguò yèkōng de guāngmáng duǎnzàn ér měilì.

The light of a meteor streaking across the night sky is brief but beautiful.

Related Characters

Component: 员

Component: 阝

陨