Definitions

kǎn see 赤嵌樓|赤嵌楼[chì kǎn lóu]
qiàn to inlay; to embed; Taiwan pr. [qiān]

Etymology phono-semantic

mountain

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "嵌" is structured from the components for mountain (山) and to lack (欠), with the element for sweet (甘) inserted between them, visually conveying the idea of a gap or hollow in a rock into which something is firmly placed. Its core meaning has consistently centered on the act of inlaying or setting one object into another, such as jewels into metal or stone into a surface, to create a flush and decorative whole. Over time, while retaining this concrete sense of craftsmanship, its application broadened to describe more abstract forms of embedding, such as embedding a quotation within a text or incorporating a clause within a legal document, thus extending the principle of fitting one thing seamlessly into a designated space in a metaphorical context.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

戒指上镶了钻石。

Jièzhǐ shàng xiāngqiàn le zuànshí.

The ring is inlaid with diamonds.

这幅画镶在镜框里。

Zhè fú huà xiāngqiàn zài jìngkuàng lǐ.

This painting is embedded in the picture frame.

他把宝石入戒指中。

Tā bǎ bǎoshí qiànrù jièzhǐ zhōng.

He embedded the gemstone into the ring.

窗户上镶着彩色玻璃。

Chuānghu shàng xiāngqiàn zhe cǎisè bōli.

Colored glass is inlaid in the window.

这座雕像的眼睛镶着蓝宝石。

Zhè zuò diāoxiàng de yǎnjīng xiāngqiàn zhe lán bǎoshí.

The eyes of this statue are inlaid with sapphires.

软件中入了防盗版系统。

Ruǎnjiàn zhōng qiànrù le fáng dàobǎn xìtǒng.

An anti-piracy system is embedded in the software.

他的记忆里入了童年的片段。

Tā de jìyì lǐ qiànrù le tóngnián de piànduàn.

Fragments of childhood are embedded in his memory.

微观结构中合着多种纳米材料。

Wēiguān jiégòu zhōng qiànhé zhe duō zhǒng nàmǐ cáiliào.

Multiple nanomaterials are fitted together in the microstructure.