典diǎn

典

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Simplified · Today

简体

Simplified Chinese

Modern simplified form (簡體). 典 (diǎn, "standard, classic") retains its ancient pictographic heart — the original form showed books (冊) resting on a stand, representing canonical texts worthy of preservation. From imperial law codes to wedding ceremonies, it has meant "authoritative example" for three millennia, its visual form of books on display still legible beneath the modern strokes.

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Shuowen

典. The oracle bone script depicts two hands gently cradling a bamboo book, a tablet of sacred wisdom held up for all to see. The image of hands supporting a canonical record explains why the character came to mean 'canonical, classic, law'.

Pinyin

diǎn· HSK 2

典diǎn

Character evolution

Shuowen

Pinyin