xiǎn

𤞤

Word · NounTraditional玁

ancient tribe; long-mouthed hound

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 4 examples
1.

noun

used in '玁狁' (Xiǎnyǔn), an ancient nomadic tribe in northern China during the Zhou dynasty

archaic

A historical proper noun found in classical texts such as the 'Book of Songs' (诗经). Represents an ancient ethnic group that threatened the northern borders of the Zhou dynasty.

 《
Shī诗
Jīng经
 》
zhōng中
yǒu有
 '
mí靡
shì室
mí靡
jiā家
 ，
Xiǎn玁
yǔn狁
zhī之
gù故
 '
de的
shī诗
jù句
 。

The 'Book of Songs' contains the line 'No home, no house, all because of the Xiǎnyǔn.'

Xiǎn玁
yǔn狁
shì是
Zhōu周
dài代
běi北
fāng方
de的
zhòng重
yào要
biān边
huàn患
 。

The Xiǎnyǔn were a major border threat to the northern regions during the Zhou dynasty.

2.

noun

a long-snouted hunting dog; hound (ancient term)

archaic

An archaic zoological term referring to hunting dogs with elongated snouts. Rarely used in modern Chinese except in historical or literary contexts describing ancient hunting practices.

Gǔ古
dài代
guì贵
zú族
chū出
liè猎
shí时
cháng常
dài带
xiǎn玁
quǎn犬
zhuī追
zhú逐
liè猎
wù物
 。

Ancient nobles often brought long-snouted hounds to chase prey when hunting.

Zhè这
zhǒng种
cháng长
zuǐ嘴
liè猎
quǎn犬
gǔ古
shū书
zhōng中
chēng称
wéi为
 '
xiǎn玁
 '
 。

These long-snouted hunting dogs were called 'xiǎn' in ancient texts.