About
The character "翰" originates from an ancient association with a type of large, strong-feathered bird, which is reflected in its traditional form containing the semantic component 羽, meaning "feather". Its structure combines this with 龺, a component historically related to sunrise or the color of dawn, which together originally implied the long, sturdy quills used as writing implements. From this concrete foundation denoting a feather and, by extension, a writing brush, its meaning expanded abstractly to signify writing itself, literary talent, and correspondence, as seen in classical terms for a letter (翰札) or literary prowess (文翰). While its core visual structure and its fundamental link to the concept of writing have persisted, its application shifted from the physical tool to the intellectual product it creates, solidifying its place in the lexicon of literature and culture.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
翰是我的好朋友。
他擅长翰墨。
翰林大学很著名。
这篇文翰写得很好。
他收藏了很多翰苑书画。
翰林的学术氛围很浓厚。
这位学者精通翰墨之道。
在古代，翰林院是最高学府之一。