刘

劉

liú

刂 + 文

Definitions

Liú (noun) surname

líu (verb) kill; slaughter

Etymology

Simplified form of 劉. Phonosemantic compound. 卯 represents the sound and 金 and 刂 represent the meaning. Based on the original meaning "battle-axe". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Semantic: 刂 Phonetic: 文

About

刘 is the simplified form of 劉, a phono-semantic compound. In the traditional character, 卯 (mǎo) supplies the sound, while 金 (metal) and 刂 (knife) together convey the original meaning "battle-axe". The simplified version replaces the left side with 文 (wén) but keeps the knife radical. Today, the character has lost its weapon-related sense and functions almost exclusively as a common surname, a phonetic loan.

Etymology Hide

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)

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)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我认识刘先生。

Wǒ rènshí Liú xiānsheng.

I know Mr. Liu.

刘小姐在看书。

Liú xiǎojiě zài kànshū.

Miss Liu is reading a book.

刘经理正在开会。

Liú jīnglǐ zhèngzài kāihuì.

Manager Liu is having a meeting.

刘备是历史人物。

Liú Bèi shì lìshǐ rénwù.

Liu Bei is a historical figure.

刘教练教我们游泳。

Liú jiàoliàn jiāo wǒmen yóuyǒng.

Coach Liu teaches us swimming.

刘氏家族来自中国。

Liú shì jiāzú láizì Zhōngguó.

The Liu family comes from China.

刘作家写了很多小说。

Liú zuòjiā xiěle hěnduō xiǎoshuō.

Writer Liu has written many novels.

刘博士研究了这个问题。

Liú bóshì yánjiūle zhège wèntí.

Dr. Liu researched this problem.

Related Characters

Component: 刂

Component: 文

Example Words