将

Etymology & Components

The Chinese character 将 (jiāng) is composed of two parts: 戈 (gē) and 乙 (yǐ). 戈 is a pictograph of a weapon, specifically a spear or halberd. 乙 is a pictograph of a person with two arms raised, representing strength or power. Together, 将 means "to lead an army" or "to command".The character 将 has been used in Chinese for over 3,000 years. It is one of the most common characters in the Chinese language, and it is used in a wide variety of contexts. For example, 将 can be used as a verb, meaning "to lead" or "to command". It can also be used as a noun, meaning "a general" or "a leader". Additionally, 将 can be used as an auxiliary verb, indicating that an action is about to happen.The character 将 is also used in many Chinese idioms and proverbs. For example, the idiom 一将功成万骨枯 (yī jiāng gōng chéng wàn gǔ kū) means "the success of one general is built on the bones of ten thousand soldiers". This idiom is often used to warn of the high cost of war.The character 将 is a powerful and versatile character that has been used in Chinese for centuries. It is a character that is worth learning for any student of the Chinese language.