Definitions
post horse; relay station
Etymology phono-semantic
horse
Semantic:
马
About
The character 驿 derives from its traditional form 驛, a compound ideograph combining the horse radical 馬 with a phonetic component, originally denoting a relay station where horses were exchanged for couriers along imperial communication routes. Its structure directly references the historical reliance on equine transport for official dispatches, and the term's meaning gradually extended to encompass any designated stopping point for travelers, including inns or staging posts. The simplified form 驿 emerged through a process of orthographic reduction, replacing the complex right-hand element with 又 while retaining the horse radical to preserve the semantic association with travel and conveyance. Across its development, the character has maintained a consistent conceptual core related to transportation hubs and waystations, even as its graphical form was streamlined for easier use.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这是一个古老的驿站。
马车在驿站休息。
驿路连接着两个城市。
古代驿使传递重要消息。
驿站不仅提供住宿，还供应食物。
他的生活像驿马一样奔波。
由于驿站在战争中受损，信使不得不绕道而行。
沿着古老的驿路行走，仿佛能听到昔日马蹄的回响。