Definitions

xiān (verb) to lift up; to raise
xiān (verb) to rock; to convulse

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "掀" is structured with a hand radical (扌) on the left, indicating an action performed by the hand, combined with the phonetic and semantic component "欣" on the right, which originally conveyed a sense of movement or rising. This composition points to its core meaning of lifting or raising upwards with force. While its fundamental sense of physically lifting or hoisting something, like a lid or a curtain, has remained consistent, the application of the character expanded metaphorically to describe the act of uncovering or revealing something concealed, and further to the more abstract sense of stirring up or instigating events, such as stirring public sentiment or launching a campaign.

Etymology Hide

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

Example Sentences Hide

开了被子。

Tā xiānkāi le bèizi.

He lifted the blanket.

起了她的头发。

Fēng xiānqǐ le tā de tóufa.

The wind blew her hair up.

他猛然翻了桌子。

Tā měngrán xiānfān le zhuōzi.

He suddenly overturned the table.

记者开了事件的真相。

Jìzhě xiānkāi le shìjiàn de zhēnxiàng.

The journalist uncovered the truth of the incident.

这场革命起了巨变。

Zhè chǎng gémìng xiānqǐ le jùbiàn.

This revolution sparked great changes.

新技术起了产业浪潮。

Xīn jìshù xiānqǐ le chǎnyè làngcháo.

New technology has set off an industrial wave.

抗议活动起了全国性的讨论。

Kàngyì huódòng xiānqǐ le quánguó xìng de tǎolùn.

The protest sparked a nationwide discussion.

科学家开了宇宙神秘的一角。

Kēxuéjiā xiānkāi le yǔzhòu shénmì de yī jiǎo.

Scientists have lifted a corner of the universe's mystery.