遁

遯

dùn

盾 + 辶

Definitions

dùn to evade; to flee; to escape

dùn variant of 遁[dùn]

Etymology

To escape 辶 to shelter 盾; 盾 also provides the pronunciation

About

As a phono-semantic compound, 遁 is formed by the movement radical 辶 (which wraps around the left and bottom) and the inner component 盾, meaning "shield", which primarily indicates the pronunciation. The core meaning involves fleeing, escaping danger, or evading capture by retreating to safety. This concept extends beyond physical escape to include withdrawing from public life, choosing concealment, or renouncing worldly affairs and social obligations.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

敌人遁入山林。

Dírén dùnrù shānlín.

The enemy fled into the mountains.

他选择遁世修行。

Tā xuǎnzé dùnshì xiūxíng.

He chose to retreat from the world for cultivation.

罪犯企图遁逃无踪。

Zuìfàn qǐtú dùntáo wúzōng.

The criminal attempted to escape without a trace.

在追捕下，他只得遁迹江湖。

Zài zhuībǔ xià, tā zhǐdé dùnjì jiānghú.

Under pursuit, he had to disappear into the rivers and lakes.

他的身影在雾中遁形。

Tā de shēnyǐng zài wù zhōng dùnxíng.

His figure vanished in the fog.

他总是用遁辞来回避问题。

Tā zǒngshì yòng dùncí lái huíbì wèntí.

He always uses evasions to avoid questions.

心灵在痛苦中寻求遁所。

Xīnlíng zài tòngkǔ zhōng xúnqiú dùnsuǒ.

The soul seeks a refuge in pain.

在政治风暴中，他遁隐海外多年。

Zài zhèngzhì fēngbào zhōng, tā dùnyǐn hǎiwài duōnián.

In the political storm, he secluded himself overseas for many years.

Related Characters

Component: 盾

Component: 辶

遁