About
The character 扇 originates from a pictographic representation of a door leaf, specifically a single door panel that swings on hinges, with its traditional form clearly depicting this origin through its components of 戶 (door) and 羽 (feather or wing). This structure visually suggests a door wing, leading to its core meaning of something that moves like a door on a pivot or hinge. From this concrete object, the character's meaning extended into the associated verb "to fan", describing the pivotal, back-and-forth motion used to create a breeze, an action akin to a door swinging. It was this verb meaning that subsequently gave rise to its now most common nominal meaning, the hand-held fan, understood as a tool for performing that very action, thereby completing a logical transition from a moving door part, to the motion itself, and finally to the instrument that creates that motion.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我有一把漂亮的扇子。
他扇了扇扇子。
扇子扇动的风很凉快。
扇形是一种几何图形。
他用扇子轻轻地扇着蜡烛。
扇叶的转动带来了微风。
她扇动翅膀，飞向了天空。
这场演讲扇起了群众的热情。