阃 (kǔn) - Threshold of a woman's chamber & women's quarters

阃Tone 3

kǔn ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

阃 · kǔn

Threshold of a woman's chamber;

women's quarters;

wife;

military command;

authority.

Threshold of a woman's chamberwomen's quarterswife

Usage highlights

Women's quartersMilitary commandWifeInner thresholdAuthorityCommanding officer

Synonyms

  • 妻— wife
  • 妇— woman; wife
  • 阈— threshold

Antonyms

  • 外— outside; external (antonym to the 'inner' sense)
  • 夫— husband (antonym to the 'wife' sense)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She stayed within the women's quarters (阃闱).
  • His wife is referred to as his 阃 (wife).
  • The general held military command (阃外).
  • The threshold of the inner chamber (阃阈).

Collocations

  • Women's quarters(阃闱)
  • Military command(阃外)
  • Wife(阃室)
  • Inner threshold(阃阈)
  • Authority(阃权)
  • Commanding officer(阃帅)

Idioms

  • Authority within and without(阃内阃外)
  • The wife's command(阃令)
  • Military authority beyond the capital(阃外之权)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically referred to the threshold separating women's living quarters from the rest of the household in traditional Chinese architecture.
  • By extension, came to refer to women, wives, or female authority within the domestic sphere.
  • Also used in military contexts to mean command or authority, especially that exercised by a general outside the capital.

FAQ