About
The character 港 is a phono-semantic compound consisting of the water radical 氵 and the component 巷, which historically served as a phonetic element despite the divergence in their modern pronunciations. Its earliest meanings were tied to natural geography, specifically denoting a branch of a river or a tributary, an interpretation directly supported by its water-related radical. Over time, as coastal and riverine settlements developed, the term's application moved from the waterway itself to the human-use spaces along it, eventually solidifying into its contemporary meaning of a port or harbor where ships anchor and goods are exchanged. This transition in meaning, from a natural feature to a functional maritime site, occurred without significant change to the character's structure, preserving its core conceptual link to aquatic environments throughout its historical usage.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
香港是一座繁华的城市。
上海的港口非常繁忙。
我们明天去维多利亚港。
请在渔人码头港口下船。
机场快线直达香港机场。
深圳港的货物吞吐量很大。
港币的汇率最近比较稳定。
港务局正在扩建深水港码头。