About
The character "邓" in its current simplified form functions primarily as a surname and a component in place names, a role it inherited from its traditional counterpart "鄧". The traditional form "鄧" is composed of the phonetic component "登" (dēng), which suggests its ancient pronunciation, and the radical "阝" on the right, which is a variant of "邑" indicating a city-state, settlement, or region. This structure points to its original use as the name of an ancient state during the Zhou Dynasty, located in what is now modern Henan province. Over centuries, as the political entity faded into history, the character’s association with that geographic origin persisted, leading it to become a stable surname for descendants and others associated with the area. The evolution to the simplified form "邓" replaced the complex phonetic "登" with the simpler component "又", a common substitution in character simplification that prioritizes ease of writing while retaining the original connection through the maintained "阝" radical. Throughout this process, the core meaning transitioned from a specific political designation to a hereditary family name, with its structural changes reflecting broader efforts to streamline the writing system for daily use.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这位先生姓邓。
邓小平是伟大的领袖。
我们去过邓州旅游。
邓氏家族很庞大。
邓小平于一九九七年去世。
我认识一位姓邓的医生。
邓小姐不仅聪明而且善良。
在邓教授的指导下，我完成了论文。