Definitions

qiáng used in 薔薇|蔷薇[qiáng wēi]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "蔷", primarily encountered in the modern compound "蔷薇" meaning "rose", has a history where its form and specific application have been refined. Its traditional counterpart, "薔", is constructed from the grass radical (艹) atop the component "嗇", which historically provided a phonetic clue but also carried an associative meaning of harvesting or storing grain, though this connection to the plant's identity is opaque. While the character itself is ancient, its standalone meaning was not consistently fixed to a single plant in early texts, sometimes appearing in names for other vegetation like the "薔虞" or in references to a type of grain. Over centuries, its usage stabilized almost exclusively within the term "蔷薇", solidifying its modern botanical reference, while the simplified form "蔷" altered the complex phonetic component "嗇" to "啬", a change that streamlined writing while maintaining the essential semantic link to plants through the preserved grass radical.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

墙角开满了薇。

Qiángjiǎo kāi mǎnle qiángwēi.

The corner of the wall is full of roses.

她最喜欢薇的香气。

Tā zuì xǐhuān qiángwēi de xiāngqì.

She likes the fragrance of roses the most.

我在花园里种了薇。

Wǒ zài huāyuán lǐ zhòngle qiángwēi.

I planted roses in the garden.

这丛薇需要经常修剪。

Zhè cóng qiángwēi xūyào jīngcháng xiūjiǎn.

This rose bush needs frequent pruning.

薇的刺小心别扎到手。

Qiángwēi de cì xiǎoxīn bié zhā dào shǒu.

Be careful not to get pricked by the rose's thorns.

雨后薇显得更加娇艳。

Yǔ hòu qiángwēi xiǎnde gèngjiā jiāoyàn.

After the rain, the roses appear even more delicate and bright.

他精心培育的薇获奖了。

Tā jīngxīn péiyù de qiángwēi huòjiǎng le.

The rose he carefully cultivated won an award.

那些攀爬的薇构成了一幅生动的壁画。

Nàxiē pānpá de qiángwēi gòuchéngle yī fú shēngdòng de bìhuà.

Those climbing roses form a vivid mural.