涓

juān

氵 + 肙

Definitions

juān surname Juan

juān brook; to select

Etymology phono-semantic

water

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 肙

About

涓 is a phono-semantic compound character representing a trickle, tiny stream, or single drop. The water radical 氵 on the left indicates it belongs to the water domain, while the phonetic component 肙 on the right provides its pronunciation. Denoting a minute quantity, it is often used metaphorically to describe how small contributions accumulate, like drops forming a massive river or modest efforts leading to substantial results.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

泉水涓涓地流淌。

Quánshuǐ juānjuān de liútǎng.

The spring water flows trickling.

这条涓涓小溪很清澈。

Zhè tiáo juānjuān xiǎoxī hěn qīngchè.

This trickling stream is very clear.

我们从涓涓细流中取水。

Wǒmen cóng juānjuān xìliú zhōng qǔ shuǐ.

We fetch water from the trickling stream.

涓涓的流水声让人心情平静。

Juānjuān de liúshuǐ shēng ràng rén xīnqíng píngjìng.

The sound of trickling water makes people feel calm.

尽管是涓涓微流，它却坚持不懈。

Jǐnguǎn shì juānjuān wēiliú, tā què jiānchí búxiè.

Even though it is a tiny trickle, it perseveres.

涓涓雨水逐渐汇成了小河。

Juānjuān yǔshuǐ zhújiàn huì chéngle xiǎo hé.

The trickling rainwater gradually converged into a small river.

环保主义者关注每一条涓涓水源。

Huánbǎo zhǔyìzhě guānzhù měi yī tiáo juānjuān shuǐyuán.

Environmentalists pay attention to every trickling water source.

在干旱地区，涓涓细流显得尤为珍贵。

Zài gānhàn dìqū, juānjuān xìliú xiǎndé yóuwéi zhēnguì.

In arid regions, trickling streams are particularly precious.

Related Characters

Component: 氵

Component: 肙

涓