珊

shān

册 + 王

Definitions

shān (noun) coral

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 王 represents the meaning and 册 represents the sound.

Semantic: 王 Phonetic: 册

About

珊 is a phono-semantic compound: the jade radical 王 on the left indicates the semantic category of precious stones, while 册 (cè) on the right provides the sound. It appears almost exclusively in 珊瑚 (shānhú), coral, the brightly colored marine skeletons traditionally prized for their beauty and ornamental value. This association with rare, exquisite substances makes 珊 a popular choice for female personal names, evoking elegance and natural refinement, without carrying other grammatical functions.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

珊珊来了吗？

Shānshān lái le ma?

Has Shanshan come?

我很喜欢珊瑚。

Wǒ hěn xǐhuān shānhú.

I really like coral.

珊珊在看书。

Shānshān zài kànshū.

Shanshan is reading a book.

珊珊买了红珊瑚。

Shānshān mǎi le hóng shānhú.

Shanshan bought red coral.

海洋里有美丽珊瑚。

Hǎiyáng lǐ yǒu měilì shānhú.

There are beautiful corals in the ocean.

珊珊昨天去看了珊瑚展。

Shānshān zuótiān qù kàn le shānhú zhǎn.

Shanshan went to see the coral exhibition yesterday.

珊珊和朋友一起保护珊瑚礁。

Shānshān hé péngyou yīqǐ bǎohù shānhújiāo.

Shanshan and friends protect coral reefs together.

科学家研究珊瑚如何适应气候变化。

Kēxuéjiā yánjiū shānhú rúhé shìyìng qìhòu biànhuà.

Scientists study how corals adapt to climate change.

Related Characters

Component: 册

Component: 王

珊