衍 (yǎn) - To spread out, extend, develop & to be abundant

衍Tone 3

yǎn ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical: 行

妍嬿

衍 · yǎn

To spread out, extend, develop;

to be abundant;

to overflow;

to evolve;

to elaborate.

To spread out, extend, developto be abundantto overflow

Usage highlights

To spread and developTo deduce and elaborateTo multiply and flourishDerived meaningOverflowing waterWidespread and abundant

Synonyms

  • 延— To extend, prolong
  • 展— To unfold, develop
  • 蔓— To spread, creep (like a vine)

Antonyms

  • 缩— To shrink, contract
  • 敛— To restrain, gather in

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The river overflows its banks (河水衍溢).
  • The theory needs further development (理论需要推衍).
  • The population is large and prosperous (人口繁衍).
  • This is a deduction from the original meaning (这是由原义衍生的).

Collocations

  • To spread and develop(衍化)
  • To deduce and elaborate(推衍)
  • To multiply and flourish(繁衍)
  • Derived meaning(衍义)
  • Overflowing water(衍溢)
  • Widespread and abundant(衍衍)

Idioms

  • Winding and meandering(曼衍鱼龙)
  • To elaborate and amplify(敷衍了事)
  • Fish and dragons intermingling(鱼龙曼衍)
  • Flourishing and prosperous(家衍人给)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted water flowing and spreading across land, conveying abundance and expansion.
  • In Chinese philosophy, it represents the natural process of development and transformation from a core principle.
  • Used in mathematics and logic for 'deduction' or 'elaboration' from fundamental axioms.

FAQ