Definitions

jǐn Hibiscus syriacus; transient

Etymology phono-semantic

tree

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

槿 is the character for the hibiscus, especially the Rose of Sharon. A phono-semantic compound, it pairs the semantic radical , meaning 'tree' or 'wood', on the left, indicating a woody plant, with the phonetic component on the right, which suggests its pronunciation. In classical poetry, the hibiscus flower is a recurring symbol of fleeting beauty, its vivid petals typically opening in the morning and fading by nightfall; this gives 槿 a poignant descriptive dimension beyond its literal botanical sense.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern