yǎn

扊

Character · Verb · NounTraditional衍

spread out; multiply; superfluous

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

3 senses · 7 examples
1.

verb

to spread out; to extend; to develop

Commonly used in compound words like 蔓延 (spread) and 繁衍 (multiply). Often implies natural growth or expansion.

Huǒ火
shì势
zhèng正
zài在
xiàng向
sì四
zhōu周
màn蔓
yán延
 。

The fire is spreading in all directions.

Zhè这
gè个
wù物
zhǒng种
zài在
cǐ此
dì地
fán繁
yǎn衍
le了
shù数
qiān千
nián年
 。

This species has multiplied here for thousands of years.

Show 1 more example
Chuán传
tǒng统
wén文
huà化
yǎn衍
shēng生
chū出
xǔ许
duō多
xīn新
de的
yì艺
shù术
xíng形
shì式
 。

Traditional culture has given rise to many new art forms.

2.

noun

superfluous words; redundancy (in text)

formal

Technical term used in textual criticism and editing. 衍文 refers to characters accidentally added during copying or typesetting.

Zhè这
duàn段
wén文
zì字
zhōng中
yǒu有
jǐ几
chù处
yǎn衍
wén文
xū需
yào要
shān删
chú除
 。

There are several superfluous words in this passage that need to be deleted.

Jiào校
kān勘
shí时
fā发
xiàn现
cǐ此
chù处
wéi为
yǎn衍
wén文
 。

During collation, it was discovered that this was a redundant insertion.

3.

noun

low-lying flatland; marshy ground

archaic

Archaic or geographical usage. Found in classical texts and place names.

Zhè这
piàn片
yǎn衍
wò沃
zhī之
dì地
shì适
hé合
zhòng种
zhí植
shuǐ水
dào稻
 。

This low-lying fertile land is suitable for growing rice.

Zé泽
yǎn衍
zhī之
mín民
yǐ以
yú渔
liè猎
wéi为
shēng生
 。

The people of the marshlands made their living by fishing and hunting.