昆

崐/崑

kūn

日 + 比

Definitions

kūn (noun) elder brother

kūn (noun) descendant

Etymology

Depicts an insect. Based on the original meaning "insect", now preserved in the word 昆虫. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

About

Originally a pictograph of an insect, 昆 (kūn) retains that early meaning only in the compound 昆虫 (kūnchóng). In its modern form, the character combines 日 (rì, "sun") on top with 比 (bǐ) below. Through phonetic loan, it acquired several unrelated senses: a formal term for elder brother, a descriptor for descendants or future generations, and the ideas of multitude, togetherness, or simultaneity. Its most common contemporary use, however, is in 昆虫, the standard word for insects.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 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)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

昆明很美丽。

Kūn míng hěn měi lì.

Kunming is very beautiful.

昆虫非常有趣。

Kūn chóng fēi cháng yǒu qù.

Insects are very interesting.

昆曲是传统艺术。

Kūn qǔ shì chuán tǒng yì shù.

Kunqu opera is a traditional art.

他们昆仲关系很好。

Tā men kūn zhòng guān xì hěn hǎo.

The brothers have a very good relationship.

昆明四季如春，气候宜人。

Kūn míng sì jì rú chūn, qì hòu yí rén.

Kunming has spring-like weather all year round, and the climate is pleasant.

昆虫学家研究昆虫的行为。

Kūn chóng xué jiā yán jiū kūn chóng de xíng wéi.

Entomologists study the behavior of insects.

昆曲表演需要精湛的技艺。

Kūn qǔ biǎo yǎn xū yào jīng zhàn de jì yì.

Kunqu opera performance requires exquisite skills.

昆仑山脉位于中国西部。

Kūn lún shān mài wèi yú zhōng guó xī bù.

The Kunlun Mountains are located in western China.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 日

Component: 比

昆