端

耑

duān

立 + 耑

HSK 2.0Level 6

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

duān (noun) end; extremity

duān (verb) to hold level with both hands

duān (adjective) regular; correct

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 立 represents the meaning and 耑 represents the sound.

Semantic: 立 Phonetic: 耑

About

The character 端 is a phono-semantic compound with the semantic radical 立 (to stand) on the left and the phonetic component 耑 on the right. Its original meaning, "to stand upright" or "proper", is supported by the radical. From this idea of uprightness with clear top and bottom, the meaning extended to "end", "tip", or "extremity". Thus, 端 can refer to both upright conduct and the beginning or conclusion of a physical or abstract thing.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

妈妈端来了热汤。

Māma duān lái le rè tāng.

Mom brought hot soup.

他端正地坐在椅子上。

Tā duānzhèng de zuò zài yǐzi shàng.

He sits upright on the chair.

请端详这幅画的细节。

Qǐng duānxiáng zhè fú huà de xìjié.

Please scrutinize the details of this painting.

这个问题有很多端倪。

Zhège wèntí yǒu hěn duō duānní.

This problem has many clues.

我们需要找到事情的端绪。

Wǒmen xūyào zhǎodào shìqíng de duānxù.

We need to find the beginning of the matter.

在数学中，端点是重要的概念。

Zài shùxué zhōng, duāndiǎn shì zhòngyào de gàiniàn.

In mathematics, endpoints are important concepts.

他端量着对方的实力。

Tā duānliáng zhe duìfāng de shílì.

He assessed the opponent's strength.

端坐不语是一种修养。

Duān zuò bù yǔ shì yī zhǒng xiūyǎng.

Sitting upright and silent is a kind of cultivation.

Related Characters

Component: 立

Component: 耑

端