鞅

yāng, yàng

央 + 革

Definitions

yāng martingale (part of a horse's harness); used in 鞅鞅[yāng yāng]

yàng wooden yoke for a draft ox

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 革 represents the meaning and 央 represents the sound.

Semantic: 革 Phonetic: 央

About

鞅 (yāng) is a phono-semantic compound originally referring to a leather martingale, the strap across a draft animal's chest that secures the harness. The left component 革 (gé) means leather, indicating the material, and the right component 央 (yāng) supplies the sound. Beyond its concrete sense, the character later took on the abstract meaning of being burdened, constrained, or entangled, likening a difficult situation to an animal restricted by its harness.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

商鞅变法很有名。

Shāng Yāng biànfǎ hěn yǒumíng.

Shang Yang's reforms are very famous.

他研究商鞅的历史。

Tā yánjiū Shāng Yāng de lìshǐ.

He studies the history of Shang Yang.

古代马车需要鞅。

Gǔdài mǎchē xūyào yāng.

Ancient carriages needed yokes.

鞅是驾具的一部分。

Yāng shì jiàjù de yī bùfen.

The yoke is part of the harness.

商鞅的政策影响深远。

Shāng Yāng de zhèngcè yǐngxiǎng shēnyuǎn.

Shang Yang's policies have far-reaching influence.

这本书介绍了商鞅的生平。

Zhè běn shū jièshào le Shāng Yāng de shēngpíng.

This book introduces Shang Yang's life.

在博物馆里看到了古代的鞅。

Zài bówùguǎn lǐ kàndào le gǔdài de yāng.

In the museum, I saw an ancient yoke.

商鞅的法治思想对后世有重要启示。

Shāng Yāng de fǎzhì sīxiǎng duì hòushì yǒu zhòngyào qǐshì.

Shang Yang's legalist thoughts have important enlightenment for later generations.

Related Characters

Component: 央

Component: 革

鞅