麝

shè

射 + 鹿

Definitions

shè musk deer (Moschus moschiferus); also called 香獐子

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 鹿 represents the meaning and 射 represents the sound.

Semantic: 鹿 Phonetic: 射

About

麝 is a phono-semantic compound created for the musk deer, a small ungulate valued for its aromatic musk used in perfumery and traditional medicine. The 鹿 component, meaning 'deer', indicates the animal's zoological category, while 射 provides the pronunciation and its meaning 'to shoot' is unrelated. The character appears almost exclusively in compound words for the animal or its musk pod, an intensely fragrant substance prized across cultures for both scent and medicinal properties.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

麝香是一种香料。

Shèxiāng shì yī zhǒng xiāngliào.

Musk is a type of spice.

这种香水含有麝香。

Zhè zhǒng xiāngshuǐ hányǒu shèxiāng.

This perfume contains musk.

麝鹿生活在高山地区。

Shèlù shēnghuó zài gāoshān dìqū.

Musk deer live in high mountain areas.

麝香常用于传统中药。

Shèxiāng cháng yòng yú chuántǒng zhōngyào.

Musk is often used in traditional Chinese medicine.

麝香的香气非常持久。

Shèxiāng de xiāngqì fēicháng chíjiǔ.

The fragrance of musk is very long-lasting.

保护麝鹿对于生态很重要。

Bǎohù shèlù duìyú shēngtài hěn zhòngyào.

Protecting musk deer is important for the ecosystem.

由于过度捕猎，麝的数量减少了。

Yóuyú guòdù bǔliè, shè de shùliàng jiǎnshǎo le.

Due to overhunting, the number of musk deer has decreased.

现代合成麝香已经广泛应用于化妆品行业。

Xiàndài héchéng shèxiāng yǐjīng guǎngfàn yìngyòng yú huàzhuāngpǐn hángyè.

Modern synthetic musk has been widely used in the cosmetics industry.

Related Characters

Component: 射

Component: 鹿

麝