龛

龕

kān

合 + 龙

Frequency#4015

Definitions

kān (bound form) niche; shrine

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 龙 represents the meaning and 合 represents the sound. Simplified form of 龕.

Semantic: 龙 Phonetic: 合

About

The character "龛", simplified from the traditional form "龕", structurally combines "合" indicating enclosure or joining with "龙" representing dragon, which in the traditional form is written as "龍". Etymologically, the character originally denoted a shrine or niche, often dragon-shaped or ornamented, used for housing Buddhist statues or sacred relics. Over time, its meaning expanded from these specific religious contexts to encompass any small shrine or alcove, and in contemporary usage, it generally refers to a recessed cabinet or niche set into a wall.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个佛龛很精致。

Zhè ge fó kān hěn jīng zhì.

This Buddhist niche is very exquisite.

寺庙的神龛前点着香烛。

Sì miào de shén kān qián diǎn zhe xiāng zhú.

Incense and candles are burning in front of the temple's shrine.

他在墙上凿了一个小壁龛。

Tā zài qiáng shàng záo le yí gè xiǎo bì kān.

He carved a small wall niche in the wall.

古老的石窟中有很多佛龛。

Gǔ lǎo de shí kū zhōng yǒu hěn duō fó kān.

There are many Buddhist niches in the ancient grottoes.

壁龛里摆放着一尊珍贵的雕像。

Bì kān lǐ bǎi fàng zhe yì zūn zhēn guì de diāo xiàng.

A precious statue is placed in the wall niche.

这座佛龛是用整块木头雕刻而成的。

Zhè zuò fó kān shì yòng zhěng kuài mù tou diāo kè ér chéng de.

This Buddhist niche is carved from a single piece of wood.

博物馆收藏了一个唐代的鎏金铜龛。

Bó wù guǎn shōu cáng le yí gè Táng dài de liú jīn tóng kān.

The museum houses a gilt bronze niche from the Tang Dynasty.

考古学家在遗址中发现了一个供奉用的石龛。

Kǎo gǔ xué jiā zài yí zhǐ zhōng fā xiàn le yí gè gòng fèng yòng de shí kān.

Archaeologists discovered a stone shrine for offerings at the site.

Related Characters

Component: 合

Component: 龙

龛