偃

yǎn

亻 + 匽

Definitions

yǎn surname Yan

yǎn to lie supine; to stop; to fall down

Etymology phono-semantic

person

Semantic: 亻 Phonetic: 匽

About

偃 combines the person radical 亻 with phonetic 匽, which depicts something hidden or placed inside a container. This suggests a person laying something down or concealing it, leading to the original sense of reclining or lying prostrate. This physical posture extended metaphorically to the cessation of activities, such as laying down weapons in a truce or stopping music. The structure thus reflects a transition from an upright, active position to a horizontal, passive one, often implying submission or an ending.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

偃师是个古老的城市。

Yǎnshī shì gè gǔlǎo de chéngshì.

Yanshi is an ancient city.

他偃卧在沙发上。

Tā yǎnwò zài shāfā shàng.

He lies down on the sofa.

偃松在寒冷地区生长。

Yǎnsōng zài hánlěng dìqū shēngzhǎng.

Dwarf pines grow in cold regions.

偃月刀很重，不易使用。

Yǎnyuèdāo hěn zhòng, bù yì shǐyòng.

The crescent moon blade is heavy and not easy to use.

风波偃息后，一切恢复正常。

Fēngbō yǎnxī hòu, yīqiè huīfù zhèngcháng.

After the storm subsided, everything returned to normal.

他偃仰自如，显得很放松。

Tā yǎnyǎng zìrú, xiǎnde hěn fàngsōng.

He bends forward and backward with ease, appearing very relaxed.

经过调解，双方的冲突终于偃止。

Jīngguò tiáojiě, shuāngfāng de chōngtū zhōngyú yǎnzhǐ.

After mediation, the conflict between both sides finally ceased.

在多次谈判后，两国之间的紧张关系终于偃息，和平协议得以签署。

Zài duōcì tánpàn hòu, liǎng guó zhī jiān de jǐnzhāng guānxì zhōngyú yǎnxī, hépíng xiéyì déyǐ qiānshǔ.

After multiple negotiations, the tense relations between the two countries finally subsided, and a peace agreement was signed.

Related Characters

Component: 亻

Component: 匽

偃