君

jūn

口 + 尹

Definitions

jūn (noun) ruler; monarch; lord

jūn (noun) gentleman; sir

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 尹 represents the sound.

About

君 is a phonosemantic compound: 口 (mouth) provides the meaning of issuing commands, and 尹 supplies the sound. The component 尹 itself depicts a hand holding a scepter, representing an official and reinforcing the idea of authority. Originally referring to a monarch or supreme ruler who governs through verbal decrees, the character gradually broadened to describe a person of noble character and refined manners, often translated as "gentleman" or "superior person" in classical philosophical texts.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

君子应该诚实守信。

Jūnzǐ yīnggāi chéngshí shǒuxìn.

Gentlemen should be honest and keep promises.

君主制度在古代很常见。

Jūnzhǔ zhìdù zài gǔdài hěn chángjiàn.

The monarchical system was common in ancient times.

他扮演了君主角色。

Tā bànyǎn le jūnzhǔ juésè.

He played the role of a monarch.

君请稍等，我马上就来。

Jūn qǐng shāo děng, wǒ mǎshàng jiù lái.

Please wait a moment, I'll be right there.

如果君有意合作，我们可以详细讨论。

Rúguǒ jūn yǒuyì hézuò, wǒmen kěyǐ xiángxì tǎolùn.

If you are interested in cooperation, we can discuss in detail.

君子之间的友谊往往很纯粹。

Jūnzǐ zhī jiān de yǒuyì wǎngwǎng hěn chúncuì.

Friendship between gentlemen is often pure.

在历史上，君主权力有时过于集中。

Zài lìshǐ shàng, jūnzhǔ quánlì yǒushí guòyú jízhōng.

In history, monarchical power was sometimes overly concentrated.

尽管君主立宪制限制了君主的权力，但君主仍是国家的象征。

Jǐnguǎn jūnzhǔ lìxiàn zhì xiànzhì le jūnzhǔ de quánlì, dàn jūnzhǔ réng shì guójiā de xiàngzhēng.

Although constitutional monarchy limits the power of the monarch, the monarch remains the symbol of the country.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 口

Component: 尹

Example Words