闽

閩

mǐn

虫 + 门

Definitions

Mǐn (noun) short name for Fujian province

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 门 represents the sound. Simplified form of 閩.

Semantic: 虫 Phonetic: 门

About

The character 闽 (mǐn) is a proper noun referring to Fujian Province, its dialects, and the Min River. Its simplified form consists of the door radical 门 (mén) enclosing the insect/snake radical 虫 (chóng). The traditional form 閩 uses the unsimplified door radical 門 (mén) around the same interior component. Historically, ancient northern Chinese used this term for southeastern coastal tribes; the snake within the door likely reflects these groups' totemic snake worship. Today, it serves as a geographic and linguistic label for the Fujian region.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

闽菜很好吃。

Mǐn cài hěn hǎo chī.

Min cuisine is very delicious.

闽南语很难学。

Mǐnnán yǔ hěn nán xué.

The Southern Min language is very difficult to learn.

福建省简称闽。

Fújiàn shěng jiǎnchēng Mǐn.

Fujian Province is abbreviated as Min.

闽江是福建的河流。

Mǐn jiāng shì Fújiàn de héliú.

The Min River is a river in Fujian.

闽商在中国很有名。

Mǐn shāng zài Zhōngguó hěn yǒumíng.

Min merchants are very famous in China.

闽北山区风景优美。

Mǐn běi shānqū fēngjǐng yōuměi.

The mountainous area of northern Fujian has beautiful scenery.

闽台文化有深厚渊源。

Mǐn Tái wénhuà yǒu shēnhòu yuānyuán.

Min and Taiwanese cultures have deep historical connections.

闽学是宋代福建的理学流派。

Mǐn xué shì Sòng dài Fújiàn de lǐxué liúpài.

Min Xue is a school of Neo-Confucianism from Fujian during the Song Dynasty.

Related Characters

Component: 虫

Component: 门

闽