侵

qīn

亻 + 𠬶

Definitions

qīn (verb) to invade; to encroach

qīn (verb) to approach; to draw near

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 𠬶 represents the sound.

About

侵 is a phonosemantic compound: 亻 (rén, "person") hints at human action, while 𠬶 (qīn) supplies the sound. The phonetic component 𠬶 combines 彐 (a hand or snout) above 冖 (cover) and 又 (right hand), originally depicting a hand gripping a broom, an act of sweeping or encroaching. That imagery aligns directly with the character's meanings of invading, intruding, and gradually encroaching on the territory or rights of others.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

敌人入侵了边境。

Dírén rùqīn le biānjìng.

The enemy invaded the border.

历史告诉我们侵略是错的。

Lìshǐ gàosu wǒmen qīnlüè shì cuò de.

History tells us that aggression is wrong.

他的隐私被侵犯了。

Tā de yǐnsī bèi qīnfàn le.

His privacy was violated.

过度使用农药侵害土壤。

Guòdù shǐyòng nóngyào qīnhài tǔrǎng.

Overuse of pesticides harms the soil.

细菌侵入人体导致疾病。

Xìjūn qīnrù réntǐ dǎozhì jíbìng.

Bacteria invading the human body causes illness.

他们试图侵占我们的土地。

Tāmen shìtú qīnzhàn wǒmen de tǔdì.

They attempted to encroach upon our land.

这种言论侵害了他的名誉。

Zhè zhǒng yánlùn qīnhàile tā de míngyù.

Such remarks infringed upon his reputation.

网络入侵可能侵害国家安全并侵犯公民隐私。

Wǎngluò rùqīn kěnéng qīnhài guójiā ānquán bìng qīnfàn gōngmín yǐnsī.

Cyber intrusion may harm national security and violate citizens' privacy.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 亻

Component: 𠬶

Example Words