Definitions

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

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

陨 (yǔn) is a phono-semantic compound meaning to fall from a height, collapse, or drop downward. Its traditional form 隕 shares the left radical 阝 (fù), which indicates a semantic connection to hills or elevated terrain. The simplified character’s right side uses the phonetic component 员 (yuán), replacing the traditional phonetic 員. The character is most commonly used in astronomy for meteors or meteorites falling from the sky. In classical texts, it also solemnly refers to the death or downfall of a significant person, signifying a tragic fall from high status.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 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 Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

天上掉下石。

Tiānshàng diàoxià yǔnshí.

A meteorite fell from the sky.

石落在山里。

Yǔnshí luò zài shān lǐ.

The meteorite landed in the mountains.

昨晚有石坠落。

Zuó wǎn yǒu yǔnshí zhuìluò.

Last night, a meteorite fell.

那颗星星落了。

Nà kē xīngxīng yǔnluò le.

That star has fallen.

科学家研究石的成分。

Kēxuéjiā yánjiū yǔnshí de chéngfèn.

Scientists study the composition of meteorites.

石撞击地球导致灾难。

Yǔnshí zhuàngjí dìqiú dǎozhì zāinàn.

Meteorite impacts on Earth cause disasters.

帝国的落是不可避免的。

Dìguó de yǔnluò shì bùkě bìmiǎn de.

The fall of the empire is inevitable.

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.