Definitions

yuè (verb) to exceed; to surpass; to go beyond
yuè (adverb) the more... the more
Yuè (noun) Vietnam

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "越" combines the radical "走", which conveys movement, with the component "戉", an ancient axe symbol that provides both phonetic and semantic value, suggesting an original sense of crossing or surpassing through forceful motion. Initially used to designate the Yue people and their ancient state in southern China, the character's application broadened over time to form verbs expressing the act of exceeding limits or transcending boundaries, such as in concepts of overcoming or going beyond. This shift from a specific geographic and ethnic reference to a more abstract lexical function illustrates how its structural elements have continuously informed its evolving meanings.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Warring States (~400 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)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

天气热了。

Tiānqì yuè lái yuè rè le.

The weather is getting hotter and hotter.

他的中文好了。

Tā de Zhōngwén yuè lái yuè hǎo le.

His Chinese is getting better and better.

过了那条河。

Tā yuè guò le nà tiáo hé.

He crossed that river.

他超了所有对手。

Tā chāoyuè le suǒyǒu duìshǒu.

He surpassed all opponents.

努力,幸运。

Nǐ yuè nǔlì, yuè xìngyùn.

The harder you work, the luckier you get.

这个问题复杂了。

Zhège wèntí yuè lái yuè fùzá le.

This problem is becoming more and more complicated.

他们跨了巨大的困难。

Tāmen kuàyuè le jùdà de kùnnán.

They overcame great difficulties.

随着时间推移,我们了解彼此,信任对方。

Suízhe shíjiān tuīyí, wǒmen yuè liǎojiě bǐcǐ, yuè xìnrèn duìfāng.

As time goes by, the more we understand each other, the more we trust each other.