节

Étymologie et composants

The Chinese character 节 (jié) is composed of two parts: 糸 (mì) and 竹 (zhú). 糸 represents silk, thread, or string, while 竹 represents bamboo. Together, they form the character 节, which originally meant "a joint of bamboo". In ancient China, bamboo was widely used to make various objects, including musical instruments, furniture, and building materials. The joints of bamboo were particularly important, as they determined the strength and durability of the object. Hence, the character 节 came to be associated with the idea of "a joint" or "a node".Over time, the meaning of 节 expanded to include other related concepts, such as "a segment", "a period of time", or "a festival". For example, the word 节日 (jié rì) means "festival", while the word 节气 (jié qì) means "solar term". The character 节 is also used in the sense of "to save" or "to economize", as in the word 节约 (jié yuè), which means "to save money".In addition to its literal meanings, the character 节 also has a number of figurative meanings. For example, it can be used to refer to "morality", "integrity", or "chastity". In this sense, 节 is often used in names and titles, such as 节妇 (jié fù), which means "a virtuous woman".Overall, the character 节 has a rich history and a wide range of meanings. It is an important character in the Chinese language, and it is used in a variety of contexts.