研

yán

开 + 石

Definitions

yán (verb) to research; to study

yán (verb) to grind

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 幵 represents the sound.

Semantic: 石 Phonetic: 开

About

研 is a phono-semantic compound combining 石 (stone) on the left, which indicates a connection to rocks and hard materials, with 幵 on the right as the phonetic component. The original meaning was the physical action of grinding or crushing with a stone implement, such as a mortar and pestle for grinding ink or processing grain. This concrete sense of reducing something to finer particles later broadened to the mental realm, describing the meticulous analysis and study of information. In modern usage, 研 primarily means to study deeply, research carefully, or investigate in a rigorous academic or scientific manner.

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

我们在研究问题。

Wǒmen zài yánjiū wèntí.

We are researching problems.

科学家研究新药物。

Kēxuéjiā yánjiū xīn yàowù.

Scientists research new drugs.

公司研发新产品。

Gōngsī yánfā xīn chǎnpǐn.

The company develops new products.

他研磨咖啡豆。

Tā yánmó kāfēi dòu.

He grinds coffee beans.

这个研究结果很重要。

Zhège yánjiū jiéguǒ hěn zhòngyào.

This research result is very important.

他们正在深入研究这个课题。

Tāmen zhèngzài shēnrù yánjiū zhège kètí.

They are deeply researching this topic.

为了成功，我们必须仔细研究市场。

Wèile chénggōng, wǒmen bìxū zǐxì yánjiū shìchǎng.

To succeed, we must carefully research the market.

经过多年的研究，他终于发现了真相。

Jīngguò duōnián de yánjiū, tā zhōngyú fāxiànle zhēnxiàng.

After years of research, he finally discovered the truth.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 开

Component: 石

研