颉

頡

xié, jié

吉 + 页

Frequency#3544

Definitions

xié surname Xie

jié used in 倉頡|仓颉[cāng jié]

xié (of a bird) to fly upwards; (of the neck) stiff

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 页 represents the meaning and 吉 represents the sound. Simplified form of 頡.

Semantic: 页 Phonetic: 吉

About

The character "颉" originates from its traditional form "頡", which combines the phonetic component "吉" with the semantic component "頁" denoting the head, initially conveying the idea of upward movement such as flying or soaring. It is historically associated with the legendary figure Cang Jie, credited with inventing Chinese characters. Over time, the character's meaning expanded to include notions of contention and rivalry, evident in the compound "颉颃". The simplified form "颉" retains these elements in a top-bottom structure with "吉" above "页", maintaining the phonetic relationship while the semantic focus shifted from physical ascent to metaphorical competition.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

传说仓颉创造了汉字。

Chuánshuō Cāng Jié chuàngzàole Hànzì.

Legend has it that Cang Jie created Chinese characters.

仓颉的贡献被后人铭记。

Cāng Jié de gòngxiàn bèi hòurén míngjì.

Cang Jie's contribution is remembered by later generations.

汉字的历史可以追溯到仓颉时代。

Hànzì de lìshǐ kěyǐ zhuīsù dào Cāng Jié shídài.

The history of Chinese characters can be traced back to the era of Cāng Jié.

学者们研究仓颉造字的方法。

Xuézhěmen yánjiū Cāng Jié zàozì de fāngfǎ.

Scholars study the method by which Cang Jie created characters.

他在论文中引用了《仓颉篇》的内容。

Tā zài lùnwén zhōng yǐnyòngle 《Cāng Jié Piān》 de nèiróng.

He cited content from the "Cang Jie Pian" in his thesis.

这两种力量相互颉颃，不分上下。

Zhè liǎng zhǒng lìliàng xiānghù xiéháng, bù fēn shàngxià.

These two forces contend with each other, evenly matched.

两国在经济领域保持着颉颃之势。

Liǎng guó zài jīngjì lǐngyù bǎochízhe xiéháng zhī shì.

The two countries maintain a rivalry in the economic sphere.

通过巧妙的外交，他们颉颃了对手的攻势。

Tōngguò qiǎomiào de wàijiāo, tāmen xiéhángle duìshǒu de gōngshì.

Through skillful diplomacy, they countered their opponent's offensive.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 吉

Component: 页

颉