yán

face

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Components
彥 sound component

  Sound component

yàn

  

elegant

頁 meaning component

  Meaning component

xié

  

(head), page

Depicts a head.

Evolution

顏 Bronze script Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze script

Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
顏 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

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

Clerical script

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

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

() 

yán

face, facial appearance; color; face; countenance

() 

Yán

surname Yan

Most common words with 顏
Freq.
Word
Meaning

颜色

color

color

颜料

paint

颜面

face

容颜

mien