昆 (kūn) - elder brother & descendants

昆Tone 1

kūn ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 日

俊梁

昆 · kūn

elder brother;

descendants;

multitude;

a surname;

used in place names like Kunming.

elder brotherdescendantsmultitude

Usage highlights

Elder brotherKunmingInsectsKunlun MountainsDescendantsKun Opera

Synonyms

  • 兄— elder brother
  • 哥— elder brother

Antonyms

  • 弟— younger brother

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • My elder brother (昆仲) is older than me.
  • Kunming (昆明) is the capital of Yunnan province.
  • Insects (昆虫) include butterflies and ants.
  • The Kunlun Mountains (昆仑山) are a major mountain range in China.

Collocations

  • Elder brother(昆仲)
  • Kunming(昆明)
  • Insects(昆虫)
  • Kunlun Mountains(昆仑山)
  • Descendants(后昆)
  • Kun Opera(昆曲)

Idioms

  • The jade of Kun Mountain(昆山之玉)
  • Brothers as limbs(金友玉昆)
  • Descendants and posterity(垂裕后昆)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient texts, 昆 originally meant 'together' or 'multitude', later extended to mean 'elder brother'.
  • Kunlun Mountains hold significant place in Chinese mythology as the dwelling place of deities.
  • Kun Opera (Kunqu) is one of the oldest forms of Chinese opera, recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

FAQ