Definitions
(noun)
end; final stage
(noun)
tip; extremity
(noun)
powder; dust
Etymology
Similar to 木 (tree), with an extra line at the top. Depicts the top end of a tree.
About
The character "末" finds its origin in an indicative modification of the basic character for "tree" (木), where a distinct horizontal stroke is placed above the trunk to pinpoint the outermost section, specifically the branch's tip. This structural choice directly established its core meaning of "end" or "extremity", a concept that has served as its stable semantic foundation. While its primary reference was to a physical terminus, its application gradually expanded to encapsulate abstract and temporal conclusions, such as the final phase of an era, and further developed connotations of insignificance or non-essential matters within various compound words and classical texts. The character's form has maintained this logical composition throughout its history, with the superimposed stroke perpetually denoting the idea of a limit or farthest point.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我喜欢周末。
末班车来了。
这是书的末尾。
月末我们发工资。
他排在队伍的末端。
周末的天气通常很好。
期末考试的复习很重要。
末代皇帝的故事很有趣。