Definitions

yāng agitated (wind, cloud); boundless

Etymology phono-semantic

water

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is a standard phono-semantic compound, combining the water radical on the left to indicate meaning and on the right to give the sound. Its original sense describes the vast, boundless, and swirling quality of large bodies of water, such as rivers and lakes. Later, the meaning extended beyond water to anything immense, magnificent, or sweeping, clouds, territories, or the awe-inspiring presence of a great state.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern