xiàn

offer, donate

Original meaning: 

sacrificial offering

Simplified form of . Depicts a dog () in a boiler () being offered as a sacrifice.

Components
南 simplified component

  Simplified component

nán

  

south

Shorthand for the component in the traditional character depicting a boiler.

犬 iconic component

  Iconic component

quǎn

  

dog

Evolution

献 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
献 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze script

Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
献 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

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

Clerical script

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

Traditional script

Modern
献 Simplified script Modern

Simplified script

Modern
Definitions

() 

xiàn

offer, present; show, display; to offer; to present; to dedicate; to donate; to show; to put on display; worthy person (old)

Most common words with 献
Freq.
Word
Meaning

贡献

to contribute

to offer

奉献

to consecrate

文献

document

捐献

to donate

Component uses

Sound component in 1 character (0 verified)