yǎn

偃

Character · Verb

lay down; cease

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 4 examples
1.

verb

to fall backward; to lay down

literary

Literary term describing the action of lying supine or lowering something. Commonly used in set phrases.

Tā他
yǎn偃
wò卧
zài在
cǎo草
dì地
shàng上
 ，
yǎng仰
wàng望
lán蓝
tiān天
bái白
yún云
 。

He lay supine on the grass, gazing up at the blue sky and white clouds.

Shuāng双
fāng方
jué决
dìng定
yǎn偃
qí旗
xī息
gǔ鼓
 ，
tíng停
zhǐ止
zhè这
chǎng场
wú无
yì意
yì义
de的
zhēng争
lùn论
 。

Both sides decided to lower their banners and silence their drums, putting an end to this meaningless dispute.

2.

verb

to cease; to stop; to desist

literary

Used in formal or literary contexts, especially regarding the cessation of military activities or hostilities.

Xīn新
wáng王
cháo朝
jiàn建
lì立
hòu后
 ，
jué决
dìng定
yǎn偃
wǔ武
xiū修
wén文
 ，
yǔ与
mín民
xiū休
xi息
 。

After the new dynasty was established, it was decided to desist from military activities and promote civil culture, allowing the people to recuperate.

Zhàn战
shì事
píng平
xī息
 ，
tiān天
xià下
yǎn偃
bīng兵
yǐ已
jiǔ久
 。

The war has subsided, and the world has been free of military conflict for a long time.