Definitions

yán bamboo mat for sitting

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. ⺮ represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "筵" is structurally composed of the bamboo radical and the phonetic component "延", a design that points to its original reference to bamboo mats utilized as seating surfaces in early Chinese society. From this concrete meaning, the term underwent a semantic expansion to denote the banquet or feast itself, a transition driven by the metonymic association between the mat and the social event conducted upon it. This shift in meaning from object to occasion demonstrates how the character's etymology remains embedded in its form, with the bamboo element continuing to allude to its tangible origins while the word now primarily conveys the concept of a ceremonial meal.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他们准备了丰盛的席。

Tāmen zhǔnbèi le fēngshèng de yánxí.

They prepared a sumptuous banquet.

酒店里正在举办一场喜

Jiǔdiàn lǐ zhèngzài jǔbàn yī chǎng xǐyán.

A wedding banquet is being held at the hotel.

爷爷的寿有很多客人参加。

Yéye de shòuyán yǒu hěnduō kèrén cānjiā.

Many guests attended grandfather's birthday banquet.

公司为员工举办了年终宴。

Gōngsī wèi yuángōng jǔbàn le niánzhōng yányàn.

The company held a year-end banquet for the employees.

如果下雨,席就会移到室内。

Rúguǒ xià yǔ, yánxí jiù huì yí dào shìnèi.

If it rains, the banquet will be moved indoors.

这场盛大的席被媒体广泛报道。

Zhè chǎng shèngdà de yánxí bèi méitǐ guǎngfàn bàodào.

This grand banquet was widely reported by the media.

她回忆起童年时参加过的家族席。

Tā huíyì qǐ tóngnián shí cānjiā guò de jiāzú yánxí.

She recalled the family banquets she attended in her childhood.

尽管预算有限,他们还是精心筹划了这场开幕席。

Jǐnguǎn yùsuàn yǒuxiàn, tāmen háishì jīngxīn chóuhuà le zhè chǎng kāimù yánxí.

Despite the limited budget, they still meticulously planned this opening banquet.