cānshēnsān

take part in

Original meaning: 

Three Stars constellation

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 component

  Iconic component

jīng

  

bright, crystal

光 iconic,remnant component

  Iconic Remnant component

guāng

  

light

三 sound,meaning component

  Sound Meaning component

sān

  

three

Evolution

參 Bronze script Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze script

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

Seal script

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

Clerical script

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

Regular 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

() 

sān

three (banker's anti-fraud numeral)

Most common words with 參
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 3 characters (0 verified)