阮

ruǎn

元 + 阝

Definitions

ruǎn (noun) ruan (four-stringed Chinese lute)

Ruǎn (noun) ancient small state (Shang Dynasty)

Etymology phono-semantic

Phonetic: 元

About

The character 阮 is a phono-semantic compound: it combines the left-mound radical 阝, which indicates a location or geographical feature, with the phonetic component 元 on the right side. Originally, it served as the name of a small state during the Shang dynasty, later becoming a common surname after the state was absorbed by neighboring powers. The character also refers to a traditional plucked string instrument; this meaning originated with the Jin-dynasty musician Ruan Xian, whose mastery of the lute-like instrument led to it being named after him.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

阮先生很友好。

Ruǎn xiānsheng hěn yǒuhǎo.

Mr. Ruan is very friendly.

阮玲玉是著名演员。

Ruǎn Língyù shì zhùmíng yǎnyuán.

Ruan Lingyu is a famous actress.

他会弹阮咸。

Tā huì tán ruǎnxián.

He can play the Ruanxian.

中阮的声音很好听。

Zhōng ruǎn de shēngyīn hěn hǎotīng.

The sound of the zhongruan is very pleasant.

阮工程师解决了问题。

Ruǎn gōngchéngshī jiějué le wèntí.

Engineer Ruan solved the problem.

阮小姐喜欢弹大阮和琵琶。

Ruǎn xiǎojiě xǐhuan tán dà ruǎn hé pípa.

Miss Ruan likes to play the daruan and pipa.

因为阮老师教得好，所以学生进步快。

Yīnwèi Ruǎn lǎoshī jiāo de hǎo, suǒyǐ xuéshēng jìnbù kuài.

Because Teacher Ruan teaches well, the students improve quickly.

阮咸这种乐器起源于秦汉时期，至今已有两千多年历史。

Ruǎnxián zhè zhǒng yuèqì qǐyuán yú Qín Hàn shíqī, zhì jīn yǐ yǒu liǎng qiān duō nián lìshǐ.

The Ruanxian instrument originated from the Qin and Han periods, and has a history of over two thousand years to this day.

Related Characters

Component: 元

Component: 阝

阮