懂中文 Dong Chinese

賢

xián

virtuous

Phonosemantic compound. 貝 represents the meaning and 臤 represents the sound.

Components
貝 meaning component

貝  Meaning component

bèi

  

sea shell

臤 sound component

臤  Sound component

qiān

  

to gouge out an eye

Evolution

賢 Bronze script Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze script

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

Seal script

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

Clerical script

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

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

贤 (賢) 

xián

virtuous, worthy, good; able; worthy or virtuous person; honorific used for a person of the same or a younger generation

Most common words with 賢
Freq.
Word
Meaning

贤

worthy or virtuous person

贤惠

(of a wife) wise and kind

圣贤

a sage

贤妻良母

a good wife and loving mother

贤弟

worthy little brother