About
The character 阏 (traditional form 閼) is a phono-semantic compound. Its outer component is the semantic radical 门 (gate), which relates to an entrance or passageway, while the inner component 於 serves as the phonetic element. Pronounced as è, it means to block or obstruct, a sense derived from the gate radical’s association with barriers. Pronounced as yān, it is primarily used phonetically in ancient texts to transcribe titles or names of nomadic groups, most notably in the term Yanzhi, which referred to the empress or primary consort of a Xiongnu ruler.
Etymology Hide
