演

yǎn

HSK 3.0 4

Rank #715

Definitions

yǎn (verb) to perform; to act; to play

yǎn (verb) to develop; to evolve

yǎn (verb) to practice; to rehearse

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 寅 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "flow out". The meaning later shifted to "spread", "develop", and "perform".

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 寅

About

Structurally composed of the water radical 氵 and the component 寅, the character 演 initially denoted the spreading or flowing of water, a meaning derived from its pictorial hint at liquid movement. Over centuries, its application shifted from describing physical phenomena to abstract concepts, acquiring senses related to developing ideas, as in deduction, or enacting roles, as in performance. This semantic expansion retained the core notion of extension or progression, possibly reinforced by the 寅 element, which carries connotations of advancement, allowing 演 to function in contexts ranging from logical inference to theatrical presentation.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他在表演节目。

Ta zai biaoyan jiemu.

He is performing a show.

演员在舞台上演出。

Yanyuan zai wutai shang yanchu.

The actor is performing on stage.

她每天练习演讲。

Ta meitian lianxi yanjiang.

She practices speech every day.

这次演出非常成功。

Zhe ci yanchu feichang chenggong.

This performance was very successful.

导演正在指导演员演戏。

Daoyan zhengzai zhidao yanyuan yanxi.

The director is guiding the actors to act.

这个角色很难演绎。

Zhege juese hen nan yanyi.

This role is difficult to portray.

历史演变是一个复杂的过程。

Lishi yanbian shi yige fuza de guocheng.

Historical evolution is a complex process.

他们用模型演示了科学原理。

Tamen yong moxing yanshi le kexue yuanli.

They demonstrated scientific principles using a model.

Related Characters

Component: 寅

Component: 氵

Components

寅氵

演