Definitions

surname Ke
(literary) branch; stem; stalk; (literary) ax handle

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Originally a pictograph of an axe handle ().

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 柯 is a phono-semantic compound originally meaning an axe handle. Its semantic component is the wood radical 木 (mù) on the left, indicating the object is made from timber. The phonetic component on the right is 可 (kě). Historically, the term for its original meaning was used in classical texts to refer to a standard of length or a rule. Over time, its use as a concrete noun faded, and it evolved into a proper noun. Today, 柯 is most commonly encountered as a surname or in the phonetic transcription of foreign names, having largely lost its everyday association with wooden handles.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

先生今天来了。

Kē xiānshēng jīntiān lái le.

Mr. Ke came today.

这只基很可爱。

Zhè zhī kējī hěn kě'ài.

This Corgi is very cute.

南是一个聪明的侦探。

Kē nán shì yī gè cōngmíng de zhēntàn.

Conan is a smart detective.

院子里种了一棵树。

Yuànzi lǐ zhòng le yī kē kē shù.

An evergreen oak was planted in the yard.

叔叔送给我一只基犬。

Kē shūshu sòng gěi wǒ yī zhī kējī quǎn.

Uncle Ke gave me a Corgi dog.

南在图书馆仔细地查资料。

Kē nán zài túshūguǎn zǐxì de chá zīliào.

Conan is carefully looking up information in the library.

如果先生同意,我们就开始计划。

Rúguǒ Kē xiānshēng tóngyì, wǒmen jiù kāishǐ jìhuà.

If Mr. Ke agrees, we will start planning.

尔克孜族的文化传统非常丰富。

Kē ěr kè zī zú de wénhuà chuántǒng fēichāng fēngfù.

The cultural traditions of the Kyrgyz people are very rich.