繁

緐

fán, pó

敏 + 糸

Definitions

fán (adjective) complicated; numerous; abundant

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 糸 represents the meaning and 敏 represents the sound.

Semantic: 糸 Phonetic: 敏

About

繁 is a phonosemantic compound: 敏 (mǐn) on top provides the sound, while 糸 (silk) below hints at the original meaning of a woven item. The character first referred to a horse's girth, a strap made of silk threads. Over time, the dense interlacing of those threads led the meaning to shift entirely toward complexity, multiplicity, and intricacy. Today it broadly describes things that are complicated, numerous, or environments that are flourishing and bustling.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Spring and Autumn (~600 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 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

他的工作很繁忙。

Tā de gōngzuò hěn fánmáng.

His work is very busy.

这座城市十分繁华。

Zhè zuò chéngshì shífēn fánhuá.

This city is very bustling.

这些规定过于繁琐。

Zhèxiē guīdìng guòyú fánsuǒ.

These regulations are too cumbersome.

市场经济繁荣稳定。

Shìchǎng jīngjì fánróng wěndìng.

The market economy is prosperous and stable.

她每天面对繁重的家务。

Tā měitiān miànduì fánzhòng de jiāwù.

She faces heavy housework every day.

这种植物在温暖气候中繁衍。

Zhè zhǒng zhíwù zài wēnnuǎn qìhòu zhōng fányǎn.

This plant multiplies in warm climates.

这个程序的步骤非常繁复。

Zhège chéngxù de bùzhòu fēicháng fánfù.

The steps of this program are very complex.

在全球化背景下，文化交往日益频繁。

Zài quánqiúhuà bèijǐng xià, wénhuà jiāowǎng rìyì pínfán.

Under the background of globalization, cultural exchanges are increasingly frequent.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 敏

Component: 糸

Example Words