懂中文 Dong Chinese
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演

yǎn

perform

Original meaning: 

flow out

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 寅 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "flow out". The meaning later shifted to "spread", "develop", and "perform".

Components
氵 meaning component

氵  Meaning component

shui, shuǐ

  

water

氵 is a component form of 水.

寅 sound component

寅  Sound component

yín

  

3rd earthly branch

Evolution

演 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
演 Seal script Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal script

Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
演 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

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

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

演  

yǎn

perform, put on; exercise; to develop; to evolve; to practice; to perform; to play; to act

Most common words with 演
Freq.
Word
Meaning

表演

play

演

to develop

演员

performer

演出

to perform

导演

to direct