驯

馴

xùn

川 + 马

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

xùn to attain gradually; to tame; Taiwan pr. [xún]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 马 represents the meaning and 川 represents the sound. Simplified form of 馴.

Semantic: 马 Phonetic: 川

About

The character 驯 is a phonosemantic compound, combining the semantic element 马 (horse) and the phonetic element 川. The traditional form 馴 displays the full horse radical 馬, while the simplified 驯 uses the abbreviated form. Originally referring to the taming of horses, an essential practice in early Chinese society for transportation and farming, it came to mean "domesticated, docile". Over time, the meaning broadened to any tamed animal, and it is also applied metaphorically to gentle, compliant human behavior. This links the notion of submission to the handling of large beasts.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这只小狗很驯服。

Zhè zhǐ xiǎo gǒu hěn xùnfú.

This puppy is very tame.

他在驯养一匹马。

Tā zài xùnyǎng yī pǐ mǎ.

He is training a horse.

驯兽师的工作很危险。

Xùn shòu shī de gōngzuò hěn wēixiǎn.

The animal trainer's job is very dangerous.

经过训练，猴子变得驯顺了。

Jīngguò xùnliàn, hóuzi biàn de xùnshùn le.

After training, the monkey became docile.

驯服野生动物需要耐心。

Xùnfú yěshēng dòngwù xūyào nàixīn.

Taming wild animals requires patience.

她成功地驯养了那只凶猛的鹰。

Tā chénggōng de xùnyǎng le nà zhǐ xiōngměng de yīng.

She successfully trained that fierce eagle.

由于长期的驯化，狗成为人类的朋友。

Yóuyú chángqī de xùnhuà, gǒu chéngwéi rénlèi de péngyou.

Due to long-term domestication, dogs have become friends of humans.

要想驯服这匹烈马，你必须先赢得它的信任。

Yào xiǎng xùnfú zhè pǐ liè mǎ, nǐ bìxū xiān yíngdé tā de xìnrèn.

To tame this spirited horse, you must first win its trust.

Related Characters

Component: 川

Component: 马

驯