qiān

阡

Character · Noun

footpath in fields; path to grave

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 5 examples
1.

noun

north-south footpath between fields

literary

A specific term from ancient Chinese land division and surveying, often used in historical or classical literature. It is part of the phrase 阡陌.

Tián田
jiān间
qiān阡
mò陌
zòng纵
héng横
 。

Footpaths crisscrossed between the fields.

Gǔ古
dài代
shí实
xíng行
jǐng井
tián田
zhì制
 ，
qiān阡
mò陌
shì是
zhòng重
yào要
de的
biān边
jiè界
 。

In the ancient well-field system, the paths between fields were important boundaries.

Show 1 more example
Qiān阡
mò陌
jiāo交
tōng通
 ，
jī鸡
quǎn犬
xiāng相
wén闻
 。

Paths crisscross, and the sounds of chickens and dogs can be heard from each other.

2.

noun

path leading to a grave; tomb passage

literary

Refers to the ceremonial path leading to a grave or tomb complex, used in classical literature.

Sōng松
bǎi柏
jiā夹
dào道
 ，
zhí直
zhǐ指
mù墓
yuán园
qiān阡
mò陌
 。

Pines and cypresses lined the path, pointing straight to the tomb's passage.

Nà那
zuò座
gǔ古
mù墓
de的
qiān阡
dào道
liǎng两
páng旁
lì立
zhe着
shí石
xiàng像
shēng生
 。

Stone statues line both sides of the tomb path of that ancient grave.