phonetic map : 旬 xun
goulnik
January 14, 2009, 06:01 AM posted in General Discussion| xun | ||
| 询 xún to ask; inquire 询问 xúnwèn to (formally) inquire 查询 cháxún to inquire into/about |
旬 xún period of 10 days / 10 years (age of the elderly) 初旬 chūxún first of the three 10-days of a month; (at) the beginning 旬岁 xúnsuì the whole year |
洵 xún truly; indeed 洵属 xúnshǔ truly; certainly |
| 徇 xùn to; practice favoritism; die for a cause 徇私 xùnsī to practice favoritism / nepotism 徇义 xùnyì to die a martyr's death |
殉 xùn to be buried alive with the dead; die for 殉国 xùnguó to die for one's country 殉道 xùndào to die for a cause |
荀 Xún (surname) 荀子 Xúnzǐ (philosopher，298-238 B.C.) |
| 峋 xún . 嶙峋 línxún jagged; rugged; skinny; upright (of people) |
恂 xún honest; sincere; fearful; in awe of 恂达 xúndá intelligent 恂栗 xúnlì severe-looking; awe-inspiring |
郇 Xún (surname; ancient state) 郇厨 xúnchú sumptuous feast |
| sun | ||
| 筍 sǔn bamboo shoot ** 芦笋 lúsǔn asparagus; edible young sprouts of reeds 笋瓜 sǔnguā winter squash 石笋 shísǔn stalagmite |
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| xuan | ||
| 绚 xuàn gorgeous; splendid 绚丽 xuànlì gorgeous; magnificent |
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** the simplified form of 筍 is 笋
changye
January 14, 2009, 06:49 AM钟乳 = 钟 (鍾、gather) + 乳 (milk or milk-like liquid)
goulnik
January 14, 2009, 07:04 AMchangye, you're right in your analysis, but the analogy is still obvious. French has a different word for human and animal breasts (etymology of 'mammal' 哺乳动物 bǔrǔ dòngwù), which I guess English doesn't, this is obviously refering to animals.
pearltowerpete
January 14, 2009, 07:10 AMHi goulniky and changye
You're right, formal English uses the same word for animal and human breasts, although there are slang words for the human kind.
The word "mammal" comes from the "mammary glands," which only mammals have.
goulnik
January 14, 2009, 06:08 AMstalagmites 石笋 (shísǔn) are sprouting upwards like bamboo, stalactites 钟乳[石] (zhōngrǔ[shí]) are falling downwards like breasts. These seem to be the Chinese metaphor 比喻 (bǐyù)