Definitions

qiū (noun) autumn; fall
qiū (noun) harvest time

Etymology

Originally a pictograph of a cricket, since cricket chirps indicate the beginning of autumn. Later the character was reanalyzed as (grain) + (fire).

About

The character "秋", meaning autumn, originates from an agricultural concept where its components "禾" for grain and "火" for fire jointly symbolize the post-harvest process of drying crops with heat, a practice characteristic of that time of year. This elemental combination initially conveyed a broader sense of harvest time before its semantic scope narrowed to designate the third season specifically. Over time, the character's form consolidated into its stable present configuration, while its meaning occasionally extended in literary contexts to represent a full year or a phase of maturity, thereby encompassing both seasonal and temporal dimensions within its significance.

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢天。

Wǒ xǐhuān qiūtiān.

I like autumn.

天天气凉爽。

Qiūtiān tiānqì liángshuǎng.

The weather in autumn is cool.

季是收获的季节。

Qiūjì shì shōuhuò de jìjié.

Autumn is the season of harvest.

雨过后空气清新。

Qiūyǔ guòhòu kōngqì qīngxīn.

After the autumn rain, the air is fresh.

孩子们在公园里荡千。

Háizimen zài gōngyuán lǐ dàng qiūqiān.

The children are swinging in the park.

我们计划在天去旅行。

Wǒmen jìhuà zài qiūtiān qù lǚxíng.

We plan to travel in autumn.

天的枫叶变成了红色。

Qiūtiān de fēngyè biàn chéngle hóngsè.

The maple leaves turn red in autumn.

农民在季忙着收割庄稼。

Nóngmín zài qiūjì máng zhe shōugē zhuāngjia.

Farmers are busy harvesting crops in autumn.