phonetic map : 旬 xun

goulnik
January 14, 2009, 06:01 AM posted in General Discussion

@ 旬

xun
xún to ask; inquire
询问 xúnwèn to (formally) inquire
查询 cháxún to inquire into/about
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
xún truly; indeed
洵属 xúnshǔ truly; certainly
xùn to; practice favoritism; die for a cause
徇私 xùnsī to practice favoritism / nepotism
徇义 xùnyì to die a martyr's death
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
Xún (surname)
荀子 Xúnzǐ (philosopher,298-238 B.C.)
xún .
嶙峋 línxún jagged; rugged; skinny; upright (of people)
xún honest; sincere; fearful; in awe of
恂达 xúndá intelligent
恂栗 xúnlì severe-looking; awe-inspiring
Xún (surname; ancient state)
郇厨 xúnchú sumptuous feast
sun
sǔn bamboo shoot **
芦笋 lúsǔn asparagus; edible young sprouts of reeds
笋瓜 sǔnguā winter squash
石笋 shísǔn stalagmite
xuan
xuàn gorgeous; splendid
绚丽 xuànlì gorgeous; magnificent


** the simplified form of 筍 is 笋

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goulnik
January 14, 2009, 06:08 AM

stalagmites 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)

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changye
January 14, 2009, 06:49 AM

钟乳 = 钟 (鍾、gather) + 乳 (milk or milk-like liquid)

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goulnik
January 14, 2009, 07:04 AM

changye, 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.

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pearltowerpete
January 14, 2009, 07:10 AM

Hi 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.