Definitions

xuē (noun) wormwood grass
Xuē (noun) vassal state of Zhou Dynasty

Etymology

A kind of bitter  grass 

About

The character 薛 originated in early Chinese writing as a designation for a particular plant, evident from its grass radical component, while the 辛 element beneath likely served a phonetic role or perhaps hinted at the plant's pungent nature. Its meaning gradually moved away from the botanical realm to become predominantly a surname, a shift that occurred through association with an ancient state known by this name. This evolution in usage from a common noun to a proper noun illustrates how Chinese characters often adapt over centuries, with the original structural cues remaining intact to hint at their historical significance even when the contemporary application has diverged.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

老师很友好。

Xué lǎoshī hěn yǒuhǎo.

Teacher Xue is very friendly.

明是我的同学。

Xué Míng shì wǒ de tóngxué.

Xue Ming is my classmate.

家住在北京。

Xué jiā zhù zài Běijīng.

The Xue family lives in Beijing.

仁贵是唐朝名将。

Xué Rén Guì shì Táng cháo míng jiàng.

Xue Rengui is a famous general of the Tang dynasty.

宝钗是《红楼梦》里的人物。

Xué Bǎochāi shì 《Hónglóumèng》 lǐ de rénwù.

Xue Baochai is a character in "Dream of the Red Chamber".

教授的研究很有价值。

Xué jiàoshòu de yánjiū hěn yǒu jiàzhí.

Professor Xue's research is very valuable.

凯琪是一位香港歌手。

Xué Kǎiqí shì yī wèi Xiānggǎng gēshǒu.

Fiona Sit is a Hong Kong singer.

定谔的猫是一个思想实验。

Xué Dìng'è de māo shì yī gè sīxiǎng shíyàn.

Schrödinger's cat is a thought experiment.