Definitions
(noun)
Yu the Great, legendary ruler of ancient China who controlled the floods (c. 21st century BC)
Etymology
Depicts some sort of bug.
About
The character "禹" derives from early pictorial representations likely denoting an insect or reptile, as indicated by the inclusion of the "虫" component meaning insect, combined with "禸" which may suggest motion or traces. Its form gradually standardized over time, moving away from direct pictographic imagery to a more abstract composition. Originally, the term possibly referenced natural creatures or phenomena, but it became irrevocably linked to the legendary sovereign Yu the Great, known for taming the floods in Chinese antiquity. This semantic shift from a general concept to a proper name occurred during the formative periods of Chinese historiography, and the character has since been preserved almost exclusively in reference to this cultural hero, maintaining that specific meaning through subsequent literary and historical traditions.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
大禹是中国古代的英雄。
禹王庙在山上。
我们学习大禹治水的故事。
禹州是河南省的一个城市。
昨天我参观了禹的陵墓。
大禹不仅治水有功，还建立了夏朝。
禹的智慧和精神至今仍被传颂。
尽管关于禹的传说带有神话色彩，但历史学家普遍认为他确有其人。