Definitions

yín late at night

Etymology phono-semantic

night

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

combines the semantic component ('evening') with the phonetic (yín) in a phono-semantic compound. points to night or darkness, anchoring the primary meaning 'deep night' or 'late at night'. It also carries the extended senses of 'remote' and 'respectful'. In classical texts, it appears in compounds such as 夤夜, meaning 'late at night'.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
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)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern