泉

quán

水 + 白

Definitions

quán (noun) spring; fountain

Etymology

Depicts water (水) coming out of a crack in a rock.

About

泉 combines the water radical 水 at the bottom with a top component 白 that depicts a crack in a rock, together showing water emerging from the ground. Its primary meaning is a natural spring or fountain. Because a spring marks where water begins to flow, the meaning broadened to signify the origin or source of anything, whether physical or abstract.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Warring States (475-221 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 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 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)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

泉水很清凉。

Quánshuǐ hěn qīngliáng.

The spring water is very cool.

公园里有一个喷泉。

Gōngyuán lǐ yǒu yī gè pēnquán.

There is a fountain in the park.

我们去泡温泉吧。

Wǒmen qù pào wēnquán ba.

Let's go soak in the hot spring.

泉水的味道有点甜。

Quánshuǐ de wèidao yǒudiǎn tián.

The taste of spring water is a bit sweet.

这眼泉水来自深山。

Zhè yǎn quánshuǐ láizì shēnshān.

This spring comes from the deep mountains.

温泉对健康有好处。

Wēnquán duì jiànkāng yǒu hǎochù.

Hot springs are good for health.

泉眼周围长满了青苔。

Quányǎn zhōuwéi zhǎng mǎn le qīngtái.

The spring outlet is surrounded by moss.

这座城市以冷泉闻名。

Zhè zuò chéngshì yǐ lěngquán wénmíng.

This city is famous for its cold springs.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 水

Component: 白

Example Words