存 cún — exist · English

存

cún

exist

At a glance · 存

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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 seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

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。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「存」从子才声，小篆从子在声，形声清晰。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「存」本义为存在、生存，引申保存、问候。

Structure

从子、才声，形声字，子表生命义类，才表音，本为在、存。

At a glance

Pinyincún

Radical子

Strokes6

UnicodeU+5B58

Character type形声

Theme状态

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English exist exist, live, be; survive; remain

Français conserver / exister Conserver, exister. «存以甘棠» : préserver (le mérite de Shao).

Español conservar / existir Conservar, existir. «存以甘棠»: preservar (el mérito de Shao).

العربية يحفظ / يوجد يحفظ، يوجد. «存以甘棠»: الحفاظ (على فضل شاو).

Русский хранить / существовать Хранить, существовать. «存以甘棠»: сохранять (заслугу Шао).

Common words

存在cún zàiexist
保存bǎo cúnpreserve

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