咸

The Chinese character 咸 (xián) is composed of two parts: the radical 鹵 (lǔ), which means "salt," and the phonetic component 甘 (gān), which means "sweet." The character 咸 originally meant "salty," but over time it has come to mean "all" or "together." This is because salt is a common seasoning that is used to enhance the flavor of food, and it is often used in combination with other ingredients. In the same way, the character 咸 can be used to refer to a group of people or things that are all connected or related in some way.The character 咸 is also used in a number of Chinese idioms and proverbs. For example, the idiom 一團和氣 (yī tuán hé qì) means "a harmonious atmosphere," and it is often used to describe a group of people who are getting along well. The proverb 民以食為天 (mín yǐ shí wéi tiān) means "the people take food as their heaven," and it emphasizes the importance of food in Chinese culture.The character 咸 is a versatile character that can be used in a variety of contexts. It is a useful character to know for HSK learners, as it is used in many common words and phrases.