Definitions
(noun)
kind; sort; type; manner; way
(noun)
(archaic) music
About
Originally a phono-semantic compound, 般 combines the meaning component 殳, a hand holding a weapon or tool, often indicating an action or striking motion, with the sound component 凡. Its original meaning was "tray", now written 盤 or 槃. Today's meanings of "sort, kind, manner" are phonetic loans, and the character serves as a classifier or noun for a category, type, or general way of doing something, frequently appearing in compounds that express similarity or broad categories. Over time, the original phonetic 凡 was corrupted to 舟 (boat), hiding the character's initial structure. Consequently, its modern form misleadingly suggests a connection to boats.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我一般早上跑步。
她像天使般美丽。
这般风景真迷人。
他百般尝试却失败了。
人生有百般滋味需体验。
他对待朋友如兄弟般真诚。
她展现出女王般的自信与优雅。
尽管前方有百般艰难，我们也要勇往直前。
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