茜

qiàn, xī

艹 + 西

Definitions

qiàn (bound form) Indian madder; munjeet (Rubia cordifolia); (bound form) madder red; dark red; alizarin crimson

xī used in the transliteration of people's names

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 西 represents the sound.

Semantic: 艹 Phonetic: 西

About

茜 is a phonosemantic compound: 艹 (grass) indicates the botanical category, and 西 (xī) supplies the sound. It originally refers to the Asian madder, a climbing plant whose roots were historically used to produce a vivid red dye. From this, it also took on the meaning of a deep red or crimson color. Today, owing to its pleasing sound and plant associations, 茜 is often chosen for feminine given names and serves as a phonetic element in transcribing foreign names.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的妹妹叫小茜。

Wǒ de mèimei jiào Xiǎo Qiàn.

My younger sister is called Xiao Qian.

小茜喜欢唱歌。

Xiǎo Qiàn xǐhuān chànggē.

Xiao Qian likes singing.

今天小茜去上学。

Jīntiān Xiǎo Qiàn qù shàngxué.

Today, Xiao Qian goes to school.

这种茜草可以染色。

Zhè zhǒng qiàncǎo kěyǐ rǎnsè.

This kind of madder can be used for dyeing.

小茜的妈妈是医生。

Xiǎo Qiàn de māmā shì yīshēng.

Xiao Qian's mother is a doctor.

茜色的裙子很漂亮。

Qiànsè de qúnzi hěn piàoliang.

The reddish dress is very beautiful.

小茜虽然年轻，但很懂事。

Xiǎo Qiàn suīrán niánqīng, dàn hěn dǒngshì.

Although Xiao Qian is young, she is very sensible.

茜草在古代常用于制作染料。

Qiàncǎo zài gǔdài cháng yòng yú zhìzuò rǎnliào.

Madder was often used in ancient times for making dye.

Related Characters

Component: 艹

Component: 西

茜