钿

PINYIN

tián

diàn

Main meanings:

①diàn - mother-of-pearl inlay
②tián – coin

HSK - no

STROKES - 10

RADICAL - 钅

Etymology:

Elements ---- Metal钅+ field 田. Phonetic series 田.

A pattern as a field 田 with metal or golden inlays, later with mother-of-pearl inlay.

Main Words:

铜钿 tóngtián coin.

金钿jīndiàn golden hairpin.

Discussion and sources

Formerly it was a kind o hairpin, a golden jewel with a pattern as a field 田. Later it referred to golden or metallic inlays > mother-of-pearl inlays > coins, money (as jewels, being valuable objects, were used as payment in old China).

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