About
The character 骞 is a simplified form of 騫, structured as a phono-semantic compound. Its upper half provides the phonetic component, while the lower half originally contained the semantic radical 馬 (horse), now simplified to 马. The original meaning referred to a horse with an injured or defective belly. Over time, the character’s primary sense shifted from this equine defect to the meanings of soaring, flying high, or elevating, a usage common in classical literature and personal names.
Etymology Hide
