About
A phono-semantic compound, 翰 originally denoted the long, stiff feathers of a pheasant or red bird. The semantic 羽 (yǔ, 'feathers/wings') signals the bird connection, while 倝 (gàn) gives the sound. These feathers were used as quill-like writing instruments before animal-hair brushes prevailed, so the character's meaning extended by metonymy to 'writing brush' and later to writing, documents, letters, and literature. It appears in literary contexts, notably in 翰林 (Hanlin Academy), referring to scholars and the pinnacle of classical literary achievement.
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。
Report an issue
Flag incorrect definitions, examples, etymology, etc.