shān
fan; slap; flap; flutter; fan up
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我有一把扇子。
wǒ yǒu yī bǎ shàn zi.
I have a fan.
扇子在桌子上。
shàn zi zài zhuō zi shàng.
The fan is on the table.
我用扇子扇风。
wǒ yòng shàn zi shàn fēng.
I use the fan to fan myself.
扇子 (shànzi)
fan
蒲扇 (púshàn)
palm-leaf fan
合 (hé)
close
关 (guān)
shut
The Chinese character 扇 (shàn) for "fan" is composed of two parts: 彡 (sān) and 舌 (shé). 彡 originally meant "hair" or "bristles," and in this character, it represents the handle of the fan. 舌 originally meant "tongue," and in this character, it represents the fan's blade. The combination of these two components suggests the image of a fan waving in the air, creating a breeze.The earliest known usage of 扇 dates back to the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE), where it was used in oracle bone inscriptions. In ancient times, fans were made from various materials, including feathers, silk, and bamboo. They were used for cooling oneself, providing shade, and as ceremonial objects. Over time, the character 扇 has also taken on extended meanings, such as "to spread out" or "to promote."
