邕

yōng

巛 + 邑

Definitions

yōng Yong River (Guangxi); short name for Nanning (Guangxi)

yōng city surrounded by a moat; old variant of 雍[yōng]; old variant of 壅[yōng]

Etymology

The area 邑 around a river 巛

About

The character 邕 combines 巛 (water) above 邑 (area/city), originally depicting a walled settlement entirely surrounded by a river, a protective moat, which was its primary meaning. Because a moat forms a secure, unbroken ring, the meaning gradually extended to abstract concepts of harmony, peace, and unity. In classical literature it often described harmonious relationships, but today it is almost exclusively used as the official abbreviation and historical name for Nanning city.