About
The character '阎' derives from its traditional counterpart '閻', constructed from the semantic element '門' meaning gate and the phonetic element '臽' which guides its sound. Its etymology points to an initial meaning of a village gate or a narrow alley, indicating a passage or entryway. Through historical usage, the character's application moved from describing physical gateways to becoming predominantly a surname, though it still appears in terms related to entrances or lanes. The structural integrity of the character, even in its simplified version, preserves the conceptual relationship between its components and the original notion of a gate.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
阎王很可怕。
我的朋友姓阎。
阎先生是老师。
这个故事里有阎罗。
阎王爷掌管地狱。
阎姓在中国很常见。
传说阎罗王审判死人。
在佛教中，阎魔是地狱之主。