仙
Taoist super-being
At a glance · 仙
Evolution of the glyph
Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.
「仙」从人从山，小篆作僊（从人䙴声），俗从人山。
What the sketch shows
Origins & notes
「仙」本义为长生不死之人（神仙），引伸高超。
Structure
从人、从山，会意字（或僊，形声），山人隐居为仙，指神仙。
At a glance
Pinyinxiān
Radical亻
Strokes5
UnicodeU+4ED9
Character type会意
Theme其他
Six languages, one character
Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.
English
Taoist super-being
Taoist super-being, transcendent, immortal; cent
Français
immortel / esprit
Immortel, esprit. «画彩仙灵» : les immortels.
Español
inmortal / espíritu
Inmortal, espíritu. «画彩仙灵»: los inmortales.
العربية
خالد / روح
خالد، روح. «画彩仙灵»: الخالدون.
Русский
бессмертный / дух
Бессмертный, дух. «画彩仙灵»: бессмертные.
Common words
- 仙人xiān rénimmortal
- 神仙shén xiānimmortal