泰 tài great
great; exalted; superior; calm
怎么记住“泰”: 三 three + 人 person + 氺 water = great. Three friends watch one person dive from the cliff into the water, and agree he is now their great leader.
部件结构
形声 · Meaning + sound
originally 大 + 廾 + 水
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
泰 = 𡗗 folded hands + 氺 water
- 𡗗 folded hands shape only
- 三 three
- 人 person
- 氺 water meaning
Three friends watch one person dive from the cliff into the water, and agree he is now their great leader.
How it came to be
The small seal form shows two hands and water, with the sign for big above for the sound; it first meant to slip.
用法
- Calm/at ease and grand: 泰然 (tàirán) composed: 处之泰然 (chǔzhī-tàirán) to take things calmly, 国泰民安 (guótài-mín'ān) the nation prosperous and people at peace.
- Also Mount Tai (泰山) and Thailand (泰国). 泰斗 (tàidǒu) means a towering authority in a field.