chinese character欠 qiàn – lack, owe
① lack, owe
② short of, lacking.
③ lean forwad
HSK –
STROKES – 4
RADICAL – 欠
Elements —- Pictogram of a person with the mouth open. Phonetic series 欠.
The upper part evolved from the pictogram of an open mouth. A person人with an open mouth is yawning, or trying to compensate for the lack of air.
欠缺 qiànquē – lack/ be deficient of (lack + lack)
哈欠 hāqiàn – yawn (exhale + yawn)
欠债 qiànzhài – owe a debt (owe + debt)
Though in its origin this character, even being related to a person, has a not so clear relation with the character for person 人, now, the evolution of language made it similar. In the upper part of the person a «cubist» representation of an open mouth has been added.
This is a person yawning, or perhaps a person with the mouth open who feels a lack of air. Later it was used for other situations in which there is a lack of something, as to lack something, to be defient in something, to owe money, etc.
More posts on Chinese characters
Chinese character 吹 chuī – blow, play (wind inst.)
chinese character 吹 chuī – blow, play (wind inst.) ① blow ② play (wind instruments) ③ boast, brag HSK - STROKES - 4 RADICAL - 口Elements ---- An open mouth 欠 + a mouth 口. Phonetic series 欠. An open mouth 欠 expels air 口, blowing, playing a wind instrument, or...
Chinese character 坎 kǎn – pit, hole
Chinese character 坎 kǎn – pit, hole 1. pit, hole 2. bank (of river) 3 ridge HSK - STROKES - 7 RADICAL - 土Elements ---- Open mouth 欠 + earth 土. Phonetic series 欠. A pictogram of a hole in the earth: the place lacking 欠 earth 土.垄坎 lǒngkǎn ridge between fields.In OBC...
Chinese character 钦 qin – admire
Chinese character 钦 qin – admire. 1. Admire 2. Respect HSK -6 STROKES - 9 RADICAL - 钅Elements ---- Open mouth 欠 + metal 钅. Phonetic series 欠. A person with the mouth opened 欠 before a metallic 钅 (jīn phonetic) or golden object.钦佩 qīnpèi - admire; esteem. 钦慕 qīnmù...
Chinese character 砍 kǎn – cut
砍 kǎn – cut Main meanings: ① cut, chop ② cut down HSK - STROKES - 5 RADICAL - 石 Etymology: Elements ---- Open mouth 欠 + stone 石. Phonetic series 欠. A stone 石 knife that leaves a void 欠 when cutting. Main Words: 砍柴 kǎnchái cut firewood. Discussion and sources More...
Chinese character 软 ruǎn – soft; flexible
Main meanings: ① soft, weak ② flexible ③ timid HSK - STROKES - 8 RADICAL - 车 Etymology: Elements ---- The soft 欠 part + a car 车. Phonetic series 欠. The soft 耎 (as the beard 而 of a man 大 changed to 欠), part of a chariot 车. Here soft 欠 replaces an old character...