About
The character "吞" has retained a consistent structure throughout its history, composed of the component "天" meaning "heaven" or "sky" placed above "口" meaning "mouth", a visual suggestion of something entering the mouth from above or being taken in whole. This etymology directly informs its core meaning of "to swallow" or "to gulp down", conveying an action that is both complete and often rapid. Over time, while retaining this primary physical sense, its usage expanded into more figurative territories, such as the annexation of territory, the suppression of words or feelings, or the concept of something vast, like darkness, enveloping everything. The traditional form of the character is identical to the simplified one, as it was not altered in the simplification process, and its structural composition has remained a stable representation of its essential meaning from its earliest standardized forms.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他吞下了药丸。
小猫吞掉了整条鱼。
不要吞下口香糖。
他饿得想吞下一头牛。
巨大的公司吞并了小企业。
他话到嘴边又吞了回去。
这种药物需要整片吞服。
他的野心似乎要吞没整个世界。