About
The character 洋, formed by the water radical 氵 combined with the component 羊, operates as a semantic-phonetic compound where the radical categorizes it within the domain of water while 羊 offers a phonetic clue, aligning with its historical pronunciation. Its original meaning pertained to abundant or overflowing water, gradually specializing to denote the ocean, as evidenced in early Chinese literature. Through prolonged use, particularly during periods of increased maritime exchange, the term's reference extended metaphorically to objects and concepts originating from across the seas, thereby acquiring the additional sense of foreign or Western, visible in compounds like 洋人 for foreigner or 洋文 for foreign languages. This semantic expansion, driven by cultural and trade interactions, illustrates how the character's core association with water provided a foundation for broader conceptual meanings, all while its structural composition has persisted without alteration.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
海洋非常广阔。
太平洋是世界上最大的洋。
她穿得十分洋气。
他对西洋文化很感兴趣。
我们需要远渡重洋去学习。
这家餐馆的装潢富有南洋风情。
在全球化时代，洋货国货都很常见。
中国的发展宛如百川归洋，势不可挡。