chén

minister

Original meaning: 

glare at

Pictograph of an eye, similar to . Based on the original meaning "glare at", now written as . The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Evolution

臣 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
臣 Bronze script Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze script

Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
臣 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
臣 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
臣 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

chén

minister, statesman, official; state official or subject in dynastic China; I, your servant (used in addressing the sovereign); Kangxi radical 131

 

Chén

surname Chen

Most common words with 臣
Freq.
Word
Meaning

Kangxi radical 131

大臣

cabinet minister

车臣

Chechen

臣服

to serve

功臣

minister who has given outstanding service

Component uses

Meaning component in 3 characters (0 verified)

Iconic component in 9 characters (9 verified)

𰀡

Simplified component in 3 characters (3 verified)

𰀡