Definitions

Hàn (noun) Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD)
Hàn (noun) Chinese (language); Han Chinese people
hàn (noun) man

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and 𦰩 represents the sound. In simplified characters, the 𦰩 component is abbreviated to .

About

The modern character 汉 is formed with the water radical 氵 on the left and the component 又 (meaning "again" or "right hand") on the right, serving as a simplified version of the traditional character 漢. The traditional form combines the water radical with the more complex component 𦰩. Originally, 漢 was the name for the Han River in central China. As the river basin was the heartland of the Han Dynasty, the character's meaning expanded to denote the dynasty, which deeply shaped the region's cultural identity. From there, the name came to represent the majority ethnic group, the Chinese language, and, more broadly, an adult man or a fellow.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
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 Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我会说语。

Wǒ huì shuō Hànyǔ.

I can speak Chinese.

字很难写。

Hànzì hěn nán xiě.

Chinese characters are very difficult to write.

他买了一个堡。

Tā mǎi le yí gè hànbǎo.

He bought a hamburger.

姐姐喜欢穿服。

Jiějie xǐhuan chuān hànfú.

My older sister likes to wear Hanfu (traditional Han Chinese clothing).

族是中国的主要民族。

Hànzú shì Zhōngguó de zhǔyào mínzú.

The Han ethnic group is the main ethnic group in China.

是一座美丽的城市。

Wǔhàn shì yí zuò měilì de chéngshì.

Wuhan is a beautiful city.

这本英词典很有用。

Zhè běn Hàn Yīng cídiǎn hěn yǒuyòng.

This Chinese-English dictionary is very useful.

代在历史上非常强盛。

Hàndài zài lìshǐ shang fēicháng qiángshèng.

The Han Dynasty was very powerful in history.