About
The character 翰 is structurally composed of the semantic component 羽, meaning feather, combined with the phonetic component 倝. Its original meaning referred specifically to the long, sturdy feathers of a pheasant or other bird, which were historically used as writing implements. From this concrete object, the term's meaning broadened to encompass the act of writing itself, as well as literary compositions and correspondence, evident in classical compounds like 翰墨 for writing and painting or 翰林 for the imperial academy of literati. While the phonetic element 倝 has become obscure in modern usage, the persistent presence of 羽 continues to anchor the character's etymological link to its avian and instrumental origins, even as its primary semantic field shifted towards abstract notions of literature and scholarship.
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。