臣
contributes the sense of a subordinate — a servant · Kangxi radical 131
contributes the sense of a subordinate — a servant, official or vassal who bows before a ruler
The old graph looks like a single large eye stood on end, tilted downward, and is usually explained as the downcast eye of a kneeling servant, though some read it as a bound captive; the true origin is disputed. In the modern square shape you can still trace that upright eye: the enclosing box with a stroke across it, plus the vertical stem at the left. This servant sense drives 宦 (a servant under a roof) and 臧, and in 卧 the eye is lowered beside a person to give "lie down." Note that in 姬, 颐 and 赜 the element is really the lookalike 𦣞, a jaw or cheek shape, not 臣 itself.
臣 at a glance
- Meaning
- contributes the sense of a subordinate — a servant
- Strokes
- 6
- Characters
- 13
- Role
- Contributes meaning
- Kangxi radical
- 131
Characters with 臣 (7 of 13)
HSK 5 · 1
Frequently asked questions
What does the component 臣 mean?
臣 means "contributes the sense of a subordinate — a servant". In the characters that contain it, it contributes meaning.
How many Chinese characters contain 臣?
13 characters in this dictionary contain 臣, including ones at HSK 5.
Is 臣 a radical?
Yes — 臣 is Kangxi radical 131, one of the 214 traditional indexing radicals used to organise Chinese dictionaries.
How many strokes does 臣 have?
臣 is written in 6 strokes.