cānshēn

take part in

Original meaning: 

Three Stars constellation

Simplified form of . Depicts three () stars () shining (). Originally represented the Three Stars constellation () in Chinese astronomy. The more common meaning "take part in" is a phonetic loan.

Components
晶 iconic,simplified component

  Iconic Simplified component

jīng

  

bright, crystal

Depicts three stars joined together

光 iconic,remnant component

  Iconic Remnant component

guāng

  

light

三 sound,meaning component

  Sound Meaning component

sān

  

three

Evolution

参 Bronze script Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze script

Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
参 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

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

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
参 Traditional script Modern

Traditional script

Modern
参 Simplified script Modern

Simplified script

Modern
Definitions

() 

cān

take part in, intervene; ginseng; to take part in; to participate; to join; to attend; to counsel; unequal; varied; irregular; uneven; not uniform; abbr. for 參議院|参议院 Senate, Upper House

() 

shēn

one of the 28 constellations

() 

cān

old variant of |[cān]

() 

shēn

variant of |[shēn]

Most common words with 参
Freq.
Word
Meaning

参加

to participate

参与

to participate (in sth)

参观

to tour

参赛

to compete

参议员

senator

Component uses

Sound component in 8 characters (0 verified)