朕

zhèn

关 + 月

Definitions

zhèn (pronoun) I; we (imperial use)

Etymology

Originally written as 灷. Depicts two hands holding an object (灷) to patch up a gap in a boat (舟), representing the meaning "seal up gaps of a boat". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

About

朕 originally consisted of the boat radical 舟 on the left and 灷 on the right, a depiction of two hands holding a caulking implement. Together they represented the process of sealing the gaps between wooden planks to make a boat watertight. In later script, the 舟 radical was gradually replaced by the visually similar 月 (flesh or moon) radical. The character's original meaning, 'caulked seams of a boat,' was completely abandoned after the First Emperor of Qin decreed that 朕 would be used solely as the first-person pronoun for the sovereign. Consequently, the character now functions as a phonetic loan for the imperial 'I' or 'we'.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

朕今天很高兴。

Zhèn jīntiān hěn gāoxìng.

I am very happy today.

朕要处理国家大事。

Zhèn yào chǔlǐ guójiā dàshì.

I need to handle state affairs.

朕命令你立即出发。

Zhèn mìnglìng nǐ lìjí chūfā.

I order you to depart immediately.

朕觉得这个提议很好。

Zhèn juédé zhège tíyì hěn hǎo.

I think this proposal is very good.

朕在御花园里散步。

Zhèn zài yùhuāyuán lǐ sànbù.

I am taking a walk in the imperial garden.

朕决定赦免你的罪行。

Zhèn juédìng shèmiǎn nǐ de zuìxíng.

I decide to pardon your crime.

朕的江山是祖先留下的。

Zhèn de jiāngshān shì zǔxiān liú xià de.

My empire was left by my ancestors.

朕希望国家繁荣富强。

Zhèn xīwàng guójiā fánróng fùqiáng.

I hope the country is prosperous and strong.

Related Characters

Component: 关

Component: 月