驯

馴

xùn

川 + 马

HSK 3.0Level 7

Frequency#2820

Definitions

xùn to attain gradually; to tame; Taiwan pr. [xún]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 马 represents the meaning and 川 represents the sound. Simplified form of 馴.

Semantic: 马 Phonetic: 川

About

The character "驯" evolved from the traditional form "馴", which consists of the horse radical "馬" and the component "川". This structure originally represented the taming of horses, with the radical providing semantic context. Over time, the meaning extended to include the subduing of other animals and broader concepts of making gentle or docile. The simplified form "驯" uses the simplified horse radical "马" while retaining the component "川".

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这只小狗很驯服。

Zhè zhǐ xiǎo gǒu hěn xùnfú.

This puppy is very tame.

他在驯养一匹马。

Tā zài xùnyǎng yī pǐ mǎ.

He is training a horse.

驯兽师的工作很危险。

Xùn shòu shī de gōngzuò hěn wēixiǎn.

The animal trainer's job is very dangerous.

经过训练，猴子变得驯顺了。

Jīngguò xùnliàn, hóuzi biàn de xùnshùn le.

After training, the monkey became docile.

驯服野生动物需要耐心。

Xùnfú yěshēng dòngwù xūyào nàixīn.

Taming wild animals requires patience.

她成功地驯养了那只凶猛的鹰。

Tā chénggōng de xùnyǎng le nà zhǐ xiōngměng de yīng.

She successfully trained that fierce eagle.

由于长期的驯化，狗成为人类的朋友。

Yóuyú chángqī de xùnhuà, gǒu chéngwéi rénlèi de péngyou.

Due to long-term domestication, dogs have become friends of humans.

要想驯服这匹烈马，你必须先赢得它的信任。

Yào xiǎng xùnfú zhè pǐ liè mǎ, nǐ bìxū xiān yíngdé tā de xìnrèn.

To tame this spirited horse, you must first win its trust.

Related Characters

Component: 川

Component: 马

驯