About
The character "艾" is structured with the grass radical over the component 乂, and it originally represented the mugwort plant, an herb used historically for both medicinal and ritual purposes. From this concrete botanical meaning, the character developed abstract senses, such as "to cease" or "to end", through processes of semantic extension and phonetic loan in classical Chinese literature, where it appears in phrases denoting the conclusion or diminution of activities. The phonetic element 乂, which itself can imply cutting or governing, contributes to the character's pronunciation while the grass radical anchors it in the realm of plants, a duality that has allowed "艾" to sustain its primary herbal association alongside its acquired verbal meanings without undergoing significant graphical alteration.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这是一些艾草。
艾米喜欢唱歌。
艾叶可以治病。
端午节人们挂艾草。
艾灸是一种疗法。
艾草的香气很特别。
我用艾草做了个香包。
艾草在中医里用途广泛。