Definitions

fān fence; hedge; (literary) screen; barrier; vassal state; Taiwan pr. [fán]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "藩" originated from the concept of a hedge or barrier formed from plants, evident in its structure that pairs the grass radical with the phonetic component "潘". Its early meaning centered on physical enclosures meant for protection or division, but over time it acquired broader metaphorical applications, coming to signify guarded territories or border regions. This semantic expansion led to its use in denoting feudal domains, specifically the estates granted to vassals under imperial systems, where the idea of a bounded and autonomous area was paramount. The character's form has remained unchanged, with its components continuing to hint at its foundational association with demarcation and defensive perimeters.

Etymology Hide

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

Example Sentences Hide

花园周围有篱。

Huāyuán zhōuwéi yǒu fānlí.

There is a fence around the garden.

古代中国有属国。

Gǔdài Zhōngguó yǒu fānshǔ guó.

Ancient China had vassal states.

镇割据导致唐朝衰落。

Fānzhèn gējù dǎozhì Tángcháo shuāiluò.

The separatist rule of military governors led to the decline of the Tang Dynasty.

他的思想突破传统篱。

Tā de sīxiǎng tūpò chuántǒng fānlí.

His thoughts break through traditional barriers.

王势力过大威胁中央政权。

Fānwáng shìlì guò dà wēixié zhōngyāng zhèngquán.

The excessive power of feudal lords threatened the central government.

为了巩固统治,皇帝削弱了镇的权力。

Wèile gǒnggù tǒngzhì, huángdì xuēruòle fānzhèn de quánlì.

To consolidate his rule, the emperor weakened the power of the military governors.

属制度在明清时期逐渐完善。

Fānshǔ zhìdù zài Míng Qīng shíqī zhújiàn wánshàn.

The vassal system was gradually perfected during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

篱不仅指物理屏障,也比喻心理隔阂。

Fānlí bùjǐn zhǐ wùlǐ píngzhàng, yě bǐyù xīnlǐ géhé.

Fences not only refer to physical barriers but also metaphorically to psychological barriers.