奄

yǎn, yān

大 + 电

Definitions

yǎn surname Yan

yān variant of 閹|阉[yān]; to castrate; variant of 淹[yān]; to delay

yǎn suddenly; abruptly; hastily; to cover; to surround

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 盍 represents the meaning and 甲 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "to cover", now written as 掩.

About

The ideogramic compound 奄 combines 大 (big/person) over 申 (to extend), though later forms depict 大 above a modified 电 shape. Its original depiction of covering or enveloping led to early meanings of remaining or being enveloped. The sense later shifted to mean suddenly or without warning. A separate meaning describes the weakness or failing breath of someone near death.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

那只小猫奄奄一息了。

Nà zhī xiǎo māo yǎnyǎnyīxī le.

That little kitten is on the verge of death.

被晒了一天的花显得奄奄的。

Bèi shàile yī tiān de huā xiǎnde yǎnyǎn de.

The flowers that were sunned all day look withered and listless.

病人气息奄奄，情况危急。

Bìngrén qìxī yǎnyǎn, qíngkuàng wēijí.

The patient is breathing feebly, and the situation is critical.

他奄忽之间就做出了决定。

Tā yǎnhū zhī jiān jiù zuòchūle juédìng.

He made the decision in an instant.

昔日强大的帝国已奄奄一息。

Xīrì qiángdà de dìguó yǐ yǎnyǎnyīxī.

The once powerful empire is now on its last legs.

消息传来，众人奄然无声。

Xiāoxi chuán lái, zhòngrén yǎnrán wú shēng.

When the news arrived, everyone fell completely silent.

这片土地古代曾奄有四方。

Zhè piàn tǔdì gǔdài céng yǎn yǒu sìfāng.

This land once encompassed all directions in ancient times.

那个计划在争议中奄然而止。

Nàgè jìhuà zài zhēngyì zhōng yǎnrán ér zhǐ.

That plan came to an abrupt halt amid controversy.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 大

Component: 电

奄