{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "One — and the single thread that holds things together.", "zh": "数字一；专一、统一。"}, "card_gloss_en": "one; single-minded", "card_gloss_zh": "专一，一以贯之", "char": "一", "collocations": ["一之", "一鸣", "守一"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["一贯", "专一"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Coherence, not counting.", "zh": "「一」是通体一致。"}, "pinyin": "yī", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "里仁篇", "char_form_orig": "一", "gloss_here": "孔子对曾子说：我的道，是一个东西贯穿着。名字用「一」，取的是这个「通体一致」。", "gloss_here_en": "One thread runs through everything. A name takes coherence, not arithmetic.", "label_en": "One thread", "label_zh": "一以贯之", "quote": "吾道一以贯之。", "seq": 170, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "My way is held together by one single thread."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "A generation — thirty years in classical usage.", "zh": "世代；三十年为一世。"}, "card_gloss_en": "generations", "card_gloss_zh": "世代，长久", "char": "世", "collocations": ["世昌", "世清", "世安"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["世代", "百世"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Continuity over time, rather than \"the world\".", "zh": "「世」在名字里是「长」，不是「人间」。"}, "pinyin": "shì", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "为政篇", "char_form_orig": "世", "gloss_here": "孔子说礼制的沿革可以推知到百世之后。「世」在这里是时间单位，名字取的是「久」与「可续」。", "gloss_here_en": "Confucius claims the pattern can be traced a hundred generations ahead.", "label_en": "What carries across generations", "label_zh": "百世可知", "quote": "其或继周者，虽百世，可知也。", "seq": 80, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Whoever succeeds the Zhou — even a hundred generations on, this can be known."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Where the sun comes up; by extension spring, beginning, and the host's side of a room.", "zh": "太阳升起的方向；引申为春、为始、为主位。"}, "card_gloss_en": "the east", "card_gloss_zh": "东方，日出之处", "char": "东", "collocations": ["东旭", "东阳", "景东", "东晓"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["东风", "东方", "朝阳"], "in_a_name": {"en": "A bearing: toward the side the light comes from.", "zh": "「东」在名字里是朝向：往光起的那边。"}, "pinyin": "dōng", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九歌·东君", "char_form_orig": "东", "gloss_here": "《九歌·东君》是祭日神的歌。「暾」是初升的太阳；东方在汉语里首先不是一个方位，是光开始的地方。", "gloss_here_en": "From the hymn to the sun god. 暾 is the newly risen sun. In Chinese, east is first of all where light begins, not a compass point.", "label_en": "Where the light starts", "label_zh": "日出之处", "quote": "暾将出兮东方，照吾槛兮扶桑。", "seq": 272, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The bright sun is about to rise in the east, lighting my railing from the fusang tree."}, {"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "大招·大招", "char_form_orig": "东", "gloss_here": "《大招》铺陈疆域之大，东西各说到尽头。名字用「东」，取的是「向着开阔处」这一层。", "gloss_here_en": "A catalogue of reach in the Summons to the Soul: west to the pass, east until the sea — openness as a direction.", "label_en": "East until the sea", "label_zh": "东至海", "quote": "西薄羊肠，东穷海只。", "seq": 1400, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "West it presses on the narrow pass; east it runs to the sea."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The middle — and, as a verb, to hit the mark.", "zh": "中间；中正；中的。"}, "card_gloss_en": "the middle; to hit", "card_gloss_zh": "中正，说到点上", "char": "中", "collocations": ["中行", "中正", "允中"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["中正", "守中"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Landing on the point.", "zh": "「中」是说到点上。"}, "pinyin": "zhōng", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "先进篇", "char_form_orig": "中", "gloss_here": "孔子评南容：平时不怎么说话，一说就说到点上。「中」在这里是动词，念 zhòng。", "gloss_here_en": "He seldom speaks, and when he does it lands. Here 中 is a verb.", "label_en": "Hitting the point", "label_zh": "言必有中", "quote": "夫人不言，言必有中。", "seq": 619, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "That man rarely speaks; when he does, he hits the mark."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Beautiful — and, in the older usage, paired.", "zh": "美好；成对、附着。"}, "card_gloss_en": "beautiful", "card_gloss_zh": "美好，秀丽", "char": "丽", "collocations": ["丽之", "丽明", "清丽"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["佳丽", "秀丽"], "in_a_name": {"en": "The quality, not the circumstance.", "zh": "「丽」是好，取字不取境。"}, "pinyin": "lì", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九章·抽思", "char_form_orig": "丽", "gloss_here": "「佳丽」是美好。这一句本身写的是独处异域，取字不取境——名字要的是「丽」这个字，不是屈原那一刻。", "gloss_here_en": "The line is about being alone abroad; a name takes the word, not the situation.", "label_en": "The word for fine", "label_zh": "好姱佳丽", "quote": "好姱佳丽兮，牉独处此异域。", "seq": 657, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Fine and lovely — and yet I am alone here, in a foreign land."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Writing — and the texts that carry it.", "zh": "书写；书籍。"}, "card_gloss_en": "writing, books", "card_gloss_zh": "书籍，书写", "char": "书", "collocations": ["书之", "书华", "明书"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["诗书", "书卷"], "in_a_name": {"en": "The kind of text you take seriously.", "zh": "「书」是被郑重对待的文本。"}, "pinyin": "shū", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "述而篇", "char_form_orig": "书", "gloss_here": "孔子平时说方言，讲到《诗》《书》和行礼时才用雅言。「书」在这里指《尚书》——被郑重对待的那类文本。", "gloss_here_en": "Confucius switched to formal speech when reciting the Documents. 书 is the kind of text taken seriously.", "label_en": "What he said in the formal register", "label_zh": "子所雅言", "quote": "子所雅言，诗、书、执礼，皆雅言也。", "seq": 356, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "When the Master used the formal speech, it was for the Songs, the Documents, and the rites."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Cloud — vapour that rises off mountain and river, gathers, and goes where the wind takes it.", "zh": "雲：山川升腾的水气，在天上成片，随风而行。名字里的「云」就是这一片。"}, "card_gloss_en": "cloud", "card_gloss_zh": "云彩，高远自在", "char": "云", "collocations": ["云起", "云松", "行云", "云岚", "云帆"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["行云", "云起", "云帆", "云霓"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Movement without effort — the part of a name that refuses to be pinned down.", "zh": "「云」给名字的是余地：什么都还没定，但也不是空的。"}, "pinyin": "yún", "senses": [{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "王維《終南別業》", "char_form_orig": "雲", "gloss_here": "此句的「云」是水气所成之雲，取「路走完了也不急」的从容；云在此是转身之后才出现的东西。", "gloss_here_en": "The cloud is what appears after the road runs out — the character in a name carries that turn, not defeat.", "label_en": "High, and unhurried", "label_zh": "高远从容", "quote": "行到水穷处，坐看云起时。", "seq": 4, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Walk to where the water ends; sit and watch the clouds rise."}, {"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "李白《獨坐敬亭山》", "char_form_orig": "雲", "gloss_here": "「孤云」写的是「独去闲」：自己走，不赶时间，也不等谁。名字取的多是这一层的自在。", "gloss_here_en": "孤 here is not loneliness but self-possession: going alone, and in no hurry about it.", "label_en": "Alone, and at ease with it", "label_zh": "孤高自在", "quote": "众鸟高飞尽，孤云独去闲。", "seq": 5, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The birds have all flown high and away; one cloud drifts off, in no hurry."}, {"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "李白《雜曲歌辭 行路難三首 一》", "char_form_orig": "雲", "gloss_here": "「云帆」是把帆比作云——云在这里是尺度：帆高得像云，所以过得去海。", "gloss_here_en": "The sail is cloud-coloured: 云 here is scale, the thing that makes the crossing possible.", "label_en": "Distance, and the will to cross it", "label_zh": "远志与行路", "quote": "长风破浪会有时，直挂云帆济沧海。", "seq": 6, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A long wind will come to break the waves; I will hoist a cloud-white sail and cross the sea."}], "tier": "A", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Bright — and, in the old usage, trustworthy.", "zh": "明亮；诚信。"}, "card_gloss_en": "bright; trustworthy", "card_gloss_zh": "明亮，诚信", "char": "亮", "collocations": ["亮之", "明亮", "亮直"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["明亮", "亮节"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Besides brightness, the old sense is trustworthiness.", "zh": "「亮」除了亮，还是「信」。"}, "pinyin": "liàng", "senses": [{"book": "孟子", "chapter": "告子下", "char_form_orig": "亮", "gloss_here": "这句出自《孟子·告子下》：「亮」在这里是「信」，不是照亮。名字用「亮」，两层都有人取。", "gloss_here_en": "From Mencius: here 亮 means good faith, not brightness. A name can take either.", "label_en": "The older sense of the word", "label_zh": "君子不亮", "quote": "君子不亮，恶乎执？", "seq": 2170, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "If a gentleman is not trustworthy, what can he hold to?"}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Humaneness — measured by what you do for others.", "zh": "仁爱；爱人。"}, "card_gloss_en": "humaneness", "card_gloss_zh": "仁爱，仁者", "char": "仁", "collocations": ["仁之", "仁和", "怀仁"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["仁者", "里仁"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Wanting to stand, you help others stand.", "zh": "「仁」是想站住时也让人站住。"}, "pinyin": "rén", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "雍也篇", "char_form_orig": "仁", "gloss_here": "孔子给「仁」下的可操作定义：自己想站住，就帮别人站住。名字用「仁」，取的是这个「推己及人」。", "gloss_here_en": "An operational definition: wanting to stand, you help others stand.", "label_en": "The measure of it", "label_zh": "己欲立而立人", "quote": "夫仁者，己欲立而立人，己欲达而达人。", "seq": 325, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The humane man: wishing to stand himself, he helps others stand; wishing to succeed, he helps others succeed."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Fine, good — of people, of moments.", "zh": "美好。"}, "card_gloss_en": "fine, excellent", "card_gloss_zh": "美好，佳期", "char": "佳", "collocations": ["佳之", "清佳", "佳期"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["佳期", "佳音"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Good enough to be worth waiting for.", "zh": "「佳」是好到值得等。"}, "pinyin": "jiā", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九歌·湘夫人", "char_form_orig": "佳", "gloss_here": "《湘夫人》写等一个人：登高远望，到黄昏布置好相会的地方。「佳期」的「佳」，是好到值得等。", "gloss_here_en": "Waiting for a promised meeting: 佳 here is what is worth the wait.", "label_en": "A meeting worth waiting for", "label_zh": "与佳期兮夕张", "quote": "登白薠兮骋望，与佳期兮夕张。", "seq": 227, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Climbing the white duckweed I gaze far off; I set out at dusk for the promised meeting."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Outstanding ability — and the person who has it.", "zh": "才智出众的人。"}, "card_gloss_en": "outstanding talent", "card_gloss_zh": "才智出众", "char": "俊", "collocations": ["俊明", "俊之", "士俊"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["俊彦", "俊才"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Talent people choose to stand near.", "zh": "「俊」是人愿意靠近的那种才。"}, "pinyin": "jùn", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "七谏·沉江", "char_form_orig": "俊", "gloss_here": "王褒说：真正有才德的人会自己靠过来。名字用「俊」，取的是才，也取这份被信赖。", "gloss_here_en": "The able come of their own accord — the character carries the ability and the trust it draws.", "label_en": "What ability attracts", "label_zh": "贤俊自附", "quote": "贤俊慕而自附兮，日浸淫而合同。", "seq": 1497, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The worthy and able admire it and attach themselves; day by day they merge into one body."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Beginning, head, the largest of a kind.", "zh": "始、首、大。"}, "card_gloss_en": "first; great", "card_gloss_zh": "元始，首与大", "char": "元", "collocations": ["元之", "元亨", "开元"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["元本", "元老"], "in_a_name": {"en": "First in rank, not first in time.", "zh": "「元」是首，是大。"}, "pinyin": "yuán", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·南有嘉鱼之什·采芑", "char_form_orig": "元", "gloss_here": "「元老」是众老之首。「元」本来不是年号，是「首、大」——名字取的是这一个。", "gloss_here_en": "Not a reign name: the head of a group, the largest of its kind.", "label_en": "The one at the head", "label_zh": "方叔元老", "quote": "方叔元老，克壮其犹。", "seq": 1631, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Fangshu, the elder of elders, was able to make his plans great."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Light — and the honour that light stands for.", "zh": "光亮；引申为光荣、显扬。"}, "card_gloss_en": "light; honour", "card_gloss_zh": "光明，家国之光", "char": "光", "collocations": ["光远", "光之", "文光"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["光明", "清光"], "in_a_name": {"en": "The part of you that reaches others.", "zh": "「光」是照到别人身上的那部分。"}, "pinyin": "guāng", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·南有嘉鱼之什·南山有台", "char_form_orig": "光", "gloss_here": "《南山有台》是祝颂之诗：这样的人是家国的光。名字用「光」，最常取的就是这一层——照亮别人。", "gloss_here_en": "A song of blessing: this person is the light of the house. A name takes the light that falls on others.", "label_en": "A household's light", "label_zh": "邦家之光", "quote": "乐只君子，邦家之光。", "seq": 1542, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "How happy is the gentleman — he is the light of his house and state."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Orchid — a fragrant herb, not the flower in a pot.", "zh": "兰草，香草。"}, "card_gloss_en": "orchid", "card_gloss_zh": "兰草，幽香", "char": "兰", "collocations": ["兰之", "芝兰", "兰若"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["兰草", "幽兰"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Scent first, flower second.", "zh": "「兰」先是气味，才是花。"}, "pinyin": "lán", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "招魂·招魂", "char_form_orig": "兰", "gloss_here": "《招魂》铺陈美好之物：风过蕙草，兰香浮起来。「兰」在汉语里首先是气味，然后才是花。", "gloss_here_en": "A breeze moves the herbs and the orchid scent rises. In Chinese, 兰 is a smell before it is a flower.", "label_en": "The scent that rises", "label_zh": "泛崇兰些", "quote": "光风转蕙，泛崇兰些。", "seq": 1194, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A clear breeze turns the hui plants; the tall orchids give off their scent."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "To rise — of a person, a house, a state.", "zh": "兴起、兴盛。"}, "card_gloss_en": "to rise, to flourish", "card_gloss_zh": "兴起，兴盛", "char": "兴", "collocations": ["兴之", "兴华", "文兴"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["兴邦", "振兴"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Being stirred, and being lifted.", "zh": "「兴」是被唤起，也是被托起。"}, "pinyin": "xīng", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "泰伯篇", "char_form_orig": "兴", "gloss_here": "孔子讲一个人是怎么长起来的：从诗开始被唤起，靠礼站住，最后在乐里完成。「兴」是第一步——被唤起。", "gloss_here_en": "How a person grows: stirred by poetry, steadied by ritual, completed by music.", "label_en": "Where it starts", "label_zh": "兴于诗", "quote": "兴于诗，立于礼，成于乐。", "seq": 419, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "It begins with the Songs, is established by the rites, and is completed by music."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The weighty document; the standard a thing is measured against.", "zh": "重要的文书与法度；引申为典范。"}, "card_gloss_en": "the standard others are measured against", "card_gloss_zh": "可依的法度与典范", "char": "典", "collocations": ["典雅", "经典", "典之", "文典"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["典范", "典雅", "经典", "典籍"], "in_a_name": {"en": "典 in a name is not stiffness; it is having something to point to when you are asked why.", "zh": "「典」不是古板，是「有据可依」。"}, "pinyin": "diǎn", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "周颂·清庙之什·维清", "char_form_orig": "典", "gloss_here": "「典」在这里是文王定下的法度——名字用「典」，取的是这个「定得下来、后人照着做」的分量。", "gloss_here_en": "The 典 here is the body of rules King Wen set: what a later age could still be measured against.", "label_en": "The standard that holds", "label_zh": "立得住的法度", "quote": "维清缉熙，文王之典。", "seq": 3342, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Clear and continuing, the statutes of King Wen."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "An army; in classical usage a unit of twelve thousand five hundred men.", "zh": "军队；古代一万二千五百人为一军。"}, "card_gloss_en": "army", "card_gloss_zh": "军队，担当", "char": "军", "collocations": ["军正", "志军", "建军"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["三军", "军旅"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Being relied on, rather than force.", "zh": "「军」给名字的是可托付，不是武。"}, "pinyin": "jūn", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "述而篇", "char_form_orig": "军", "gloss_here": "子路问孔子：带兵你带谁。名字用「军」，取的不是打仗，是担当与可托付。", "gloss_here_en": "Zilu asks whom Confucius would take to war. A name takes being relied on, not fighting.", "label_en": "Whom would you take", "label_zh": "三军", "quote": "子行三军，则谁与？", "seq": 339, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "If you were to lead the three armies, whom would you take with you?"}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The phoenix — the bird whose appearance marks a good age.", "zh": "凤凰，传说中的瑞鸟。"}, "card_gloss_en": "phoenix", "card_gloss_zh": "凤凰，祥瑞", "char": "凤", "collocations": ["凤鸣", "凤之", "彩凤"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["凤凰", "鸣凤"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Rarity and height, rather than plumage.", "zh": "「凤」是稀见与高，不是华丽。"}, "pinyin": "fèng", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·生民之什·卷阿", "char_form_orig": "凤", "gloss_here": "《卷阿》写凤凰鸣于高冈，是太平之世的征兆。名字用「凤」，取的是稀见与高。", "gloss_here_en": "A sign of a well-governed age: the bird is heard on the height. A name takes rarity and height.", "label_en": "The bird on the ridge", "label_zh": "凤凰鸣矣", "quote": "凤凰鸣矣，于彼高冈。", "seq": 2888, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The phoenix cries — there, on the high ridge."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Sharp — and what is of advantage.", "zh": "锋利；利益。"}, "card_gloss_en": "sharp; to benefit", "card_gloss_zh": "锋利，有利于", "char": "利", "collocations": ["利之", "利民", "永利"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["利刃", "利见"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Making something useful, rather than seeking gain.", "zh": "「利」是使之有用，不是求财。"}, "pinyin": "lì", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "里仁篇", "char_form_orig": "利", "gloss_here": "「利」在这里是动词：把仁当作有好处的事去做。名字用「利」，取的是这个「使之有用」。", "gloss_here_en": "Here 利 is a verb: the wise make humaneness pay. A name takes the making-useful, not the profit.", "label_en": "Making goodness useful", "label_zh": "知者利仁", "quote": "仁者安仁，知者利仁。", "seq": 145, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The humane rest in humaneness; the wise turn it to advantage."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Courage — but in the classics, never without something to be brave for.", "zh": "勇敢；有胆气。"}, "card_gloss_en": "courage", "card_gloss_zh": "勇敢，勇者不惧", "char": "勇", "collocations": ["勇之", "志勇", "勇为"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["勇毅", "大勇"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Courage always needs something to be for.", "zh": "「勇」总要配一个方向。"}, "pinyin": "yǒng", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子罕篇", "char_form_orig": "勇", "gloss_here": "三达德里的第三个：勇的解药是惧怕。孔子讲勇时总要配一个「义」——单独的勇他不夸。", "gloss_here_en": "The third of the three virtues. Confucius never praises courage on its own; it is always paired with what it serves.", "label_en": "One of three", "label_zh": "勇者不惧", "quote": "知者不惑，仁者不忧，勇者不惧。", "seq": 513, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The wise are not perplexed, the humane are not anxious, the brave are not afraid."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Flower — and then lustre, splendour, and the Chinese world itself (华夏).", "zh": "花；引申为光华、华美、华夏。"}, "card_gloss_en": "blossom, lustre", "card_gloss_zh": "花与光华，正在盛开", "char": "华", "collocations": ["建华", "华清", "华章", "明华"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["华彩", "春华", "光华"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Blossom and lustre: something is growing, and it shows.", "zh": "「华」是盛开与光华——有东西正在长出来，而且看得见。"}, "pinyin": "huá", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·周南·桃夭", "char_form_orig": "华", "gloss_here": "《桃夭》是嫁女之歌。「灼灼」是花开得亮；名字用「华」，最常取的就是这一层：正在盛开的时候。", "gloss_here_en": "A wedding song. 灼灼 is the brightness of blossom; a name takes this sense most often — the moment of full bloom.", "label_en": "In full flower", "label_zh": "灼灼其华", "quote": "桃之夭夭，灼灼其华。", "seq": 38, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The peach tree, young and full of life — how brilliantly its flowers burn."}, {"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·鹿鸣之什·皇皇者华", "char_form_orig": "华", "gloss_here": "这是使臣出行的诗：光华照在原野上。「华」在这里不只是花，是照出去的光。", "gloss_here_en": "A poem of envoys on the road: lustre spread across open country. Here 华 is light, not blossom.", "label_en": "Lustre that travels", "label_zh": "皇皇者华", "quote": "皇皇者华，于彼原隰。", "seq": 1394, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Bright, bright are the flowers, out on the plains and lowlands."}, {"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九歌·云中君", "char_form_orig": "华", "gloss_here": "《云中君》祭云神，先沐浴再着华彩之衣。「华采」是仪式的分量，不是装饰。", "gloss_here_en": "From the hymn to the cloud god: bathing, then robes of brilliant colour. 华采 is ritual weight, not decoration.", "label_en": "Dressed for something sacred", "label_zh": "华采", "quote": "浴兰汤兮沐芳，华采衣兮若英。", "seq": 199, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Bathed in orchid water, perfumed — dressed in brilliant robes like a flower."}], "tier": "A", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Broad — of learning, and of giving.", "zh": "广博。"}, "card_gloss_en": "broad", "card_gloss_zh": "广博，博施", "char": "博", "collocations": ["博之", "博文", "博远"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["博学", "广博"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Reach rather than erudition.", "zh": "「博」是覆盖面，不是知识量。"}, "pinyin": "bó", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "雍也篇", "char_form_orig": "博", "gloss_here": "子贡问：广泛地给人好处、能帮到大众，算仁吗？孔子答：何止是仁。「博」在这里是覆盖面，不是知识量。", "gloss_here_en": "Zigong asks whether broad generosity counts as humaneness. Here 博 is reach, not erudition.", "label_en": "Broad, and it reaches people", "label_zh": "博施于民", "quote": "如有博施于民而能济众，何如？", "seq": 321, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Suppose one were broadly generous to the people and could help the multitude — what then?"}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "A friend — measured by what they do to you.", "zh": "朋友；友爱。"}, "card_gloss_en": "friend", "card_gloss_zh": "朋友，益友", "char": "友", "collocations": ["友之", "友直", "良友"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["益友", "良友"], "in_a_name": {"en": "A bond with a standard in it.", "zh": "「友」是有标准的那种关系。"}, "pinyin": "yǒu", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "季氏篇", "char_form_orig": "友", "gloss_here": "孔子把有益的朋友分成三种：直、谅、多闻。「友」在名字里取的是这个「值得交」的标准。", "gloss_here_en": "Three sorts worth having: upright, sincere, well-informed. 友 carries the standard, not just the bond.", "label_en": "Three kinds worth having", "label_zh": "益者三友", "quote": "友直、友谅、友多闻，益矣。", "seq": 1045, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Friends who are upright, who are sincere, who know much — these are the ones that benefit you."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "A ruler — and then anyone worth following.", "zh": "君主；引申为有德者、君子。"}, "card_gloss_en": "gentleman", "card_gloss_zh": "君子，有德者", "char": "君", "collocations": ["君实", "君明", "君和"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["君子", "君之"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Not built for only one use.", "zh": "「君」是不被单一用途限定。"}, "pinyin": "jūn", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "为政篇", "char_form_orig": "君", "gloss_here": "四个字：君子不是一个只能装一种东西的器皿。名字用「君」，取的是这种不被单一用途限定的分量。", "gloss_here_en": "Four words: not a container built for one use. A name takes the refusal to be only one thing.", "label_en": "Not a tool", "label_zh": "君子不器", "quote": "君子不器。", "seq": 58, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A gentleman is not a vessel."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Harmony — but not sameness.", "zh": "和谐；温和。"}, "card_gloss_en": "harmony", "card_gloss_zh": "和谐，和而不同", "char": "和", "collocations": ["和之", "和风", "清和"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["和顺", "平和"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Differences held together, not erased.", "zh": "「和」是不同还能合。"}, "pinyin": "hé", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子路篇", "char_form_orig": "和", "gloss_here": "孔子把「和」与「同」分开：和是各说各的还能合，同是都闭嘴才叫齐。名字用「和」，取的是前者。", "gloss_here_en": "Confucius separates harmony from uniformity: one keeps differences and still holds; the other needs silence.", "label_en": "The distinction that matters", "label_zh": "和而不同", "quote": "君子和而不同，小人同而不和。", "seq": 833, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A gentleman harmonises without agreeing on everything; a petty person agrees without harmony."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Wise — and the person who is.", "zh": "明智；有智慧的人。"}, "card_gloss_en": "wise", "card_gloss_zh": "明智，哲人", "char": "哲", "collocations": ["哲之", "明哲", "哲思"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["哲人", "明哲"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Seeing clearly, and acting on it.", "zh": "「哲」是看得清也做对。"}, "pinyin": "zhé", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·文王之什·下武", "char_form_orig": "哲", "gloss_here": "「哲王」是明智的君主。名字用「哲」，取的是这个「看得清、做对」的合体。", "gloss_here_en": "Wise kings, one generation after another. 哲 is seeing clearly and acting accordingly.", "label_en": "Wisdom in the line", "label_zh": "世有哲王", "quote": "下武维周，世有哲王。", "seq": 2705, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Following in the steps of Zhou, generation after generation produced wise kings."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Fine — and the act of calling something fine.", "zh": "美好；赞许。"}, "card_gloss_en": "fine; to commend", "card_gloss_zh": "美好，嘉许", "char": "嘉", "collocations": ["嘉之", "嘉言", "永嘉"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["嘉善", "嘉宾"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Praise, with room left for those who fall short.", "zh": "「嘉」是赞美好的，也体谅差的。"}, "pinyin": "jiā", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子张篇", "char_form_orig": "嘉", "gloss_here": "子张说君子：赞美好的，同时体谅做不到的。「嘉」在这一句里是个动作。", "gloss_here_en": "Praising the good while making room for those who cannot — 嘉 is a verb here.", "label_en": "Praise and pity together", "label_zh": "嘉善而矜不能", "quote": "君子尊贤而容众，嘉善而矜不能。", "seq": 1208, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A gentleman honours the worthy and accepts the many; he praises the good and pities those who cannot manage."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "A state — land, people and rule taken together.", "zh": "邦国；有土地、人民、主权的共同体。"}, "card_gloss_en": "the state", "card_gloss_zh": "邦国，家国天下", "char": "国", "collocations": ["国华", "国宁", "安国", "国维"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["家国", "邦国"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Scale of concern, not a rank.", "zh": "「国」在名字里是格局，不是官职。"}, "pinyin": "guó", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "里仁篇", "char_form_orig": "国", "gloss_here": "孔子把治国的方法说成「礼让」——不是权术。名字用「国」，多数取的是这个胸怀，不是官位。", "gloss_here_en": "Confucius answers with courtesy rather than statecraft. A name takes the breadth, not the office.", "label_en": "Governing without force", "label_zh": "以礼让为国", "quote": "能以礼让为国乎？", "seq": 164, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Can a state be run by courtesy and yielding?"}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The main hall of a house; by extension what is open and upright, and how far in one has got.", "zh": "正屋、厅堂；引申为堂堂正正、堂奥之深。"}, "card_gloss_en": "the open hall", "card_gloss_zh": "厅堂，堂堂正正", "char": "堂", "collocations": ["硕堂", "堂正", "明堂"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["堂堂", "升堂", "堂正"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Open and upright: the door is open, and you can stand straight inside.", "zh": "「堂」是敞亮正大：门开着，进得来，也站得直。"}, "pinyin": "táng", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "先进篇", "char_form_orig": "堂", "gloss_here": "孔子评子路：已经上了厅堂，还没进内室。后来「升堂入室」专指学问由浅入深——「堂」是进门之后的第一重。", "gloss_here_en": "Confucius on Zilu: he has reached the hall but not the inner room. 升堂入室 later means advancing from the surface of a subject toward its depth.", "label_en": "Up into the hall, not yet the inner room", "label_zh": "升堂入室", "quote": "由也升堂矣，未入于室也。", "seq": 621, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "You has climbed into the hall, but has not yet entered the inner room."}, {"book": "论语", "chapter": "子张篇", "char_form_orig": "堂", "gloss_here": "曾子说子张「堂堂」：气象盛大，但与人同处不易。名字取「堂堂」，要的是端正有气象那一面。", "gloss_here_en": "Zengzi calls Zizhang 堂堂 — grand in bearing. A name takes the upright presence, not the difficulty of working with him.", "label_en": "Presence you can feel", "label_zh": "堂堂", "quote": "堂堂乎张也，难与并为仁矣。", "seq": 1230, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "How imposing Zizhang is — and yet it is hard to reach humaneness alongside him."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Great — by measure, and by worth.", "zh": "大的；广大。"}, "card_gloss_en": "great", "card_gloss_zh": "广大，分量", "char": "大", "collocations": ["大之", "大年", "弘大"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["大哉", "广大"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Weight rather than size.", "zh": "「大」是分量，不是尺寸。"}, "pinyin": "dà", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "泰伯篇", "char_form_orig": "大", "gloss_here": "孔子叹尧。这个「大」不是尺寸，是分量——后面接着说「巍巍乎，唯天为大，唯尧则之」。", "gloss_here_en": "Not size but weight: Confucius goes on to say only heaven is great, and Yao took it as his model.", "label_en": "Greatness that is not size", "label_zh": "大哉尧之为君", "quote": "大哉尧之为君也！", "seq": 435, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "How great was Yao as a ruler!"}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Sky — and then the order that runs without being told.", "zh": "天空；自然；命运。"}, "card_gloss_en": "sky; heaven", "card_gloss_zh": "天空，天道", "char": "天", "collocations": ["天行", "天与", "乐天"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["天行", "青天"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Weight that does not need to announce itself.", "zh": "「天」是不言而行的分量。"}, "pinyin": "tiān", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "阳货篇", "char_form_orig": "天", "gloss_here": "孔子接着说：四时行焉，百物生焉。天一句话不说，四季照常转。「天」在名字里取的是这个分量——不言而行。", "gloss_here_en": "The seasons still turn and things still grow. Heaven says nothing and does everything.", "label_en": "What heaven does not say", "label_zh": "天何言哉", "quote": "天何言哉？", "seq": 1126, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "What does Heaven ever say?"}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Graceful — of bearing rather than feature.", "zh": "美好；姿态轻盈。"}, "card_gloss_en": "graceful", "card_gloss_zh": "美好，娟秀", "char": "娟", "collocations": ["娟之", "娟秀", "清娟"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["娟秀", "婵娟"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Upright without being stiff.", "zh": "「娟」是站得直但不僵。"}, "pinyin": "juān", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "七谏·初放", "char_form_orig": "娟", "gloss_here": "东方朔写竹子：修长而姿态轻盈。名字用「娟」，取的是这种「站得直但不僵」。", "gloss_here_en": "Tall bamboo by the water: upright, and without stiffness. 娟 is that carriage.", "label_en": "The poise of tall bamboo", "label_zh": "便娟之修竹", "quote": "便娟之修竹兮，寄生乎江潭。", "seq": 1484, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The tall bamboo, so graceful, grows by the river pool."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "To learn — and what has been learned.", "zh": "学习；学问。"}, "card_gloss_en": "to learn", "card_gloss_zh": "学习，好学", "char": "学", "collocations": ["学之", "学文", "学敏"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["好学", "学问"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Not reading — the conduct that earns the word.", "zh": "「学」不是读书，是那几件事做到了。"}, "pinyin": "xué", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "学而篇", "char_form_orig": "学", "gloss_here": "孔子给「好学」下的定义不在书里：食不求饱、居不求安、敏事慎言、就有道而正——做到了才算。", "gloss_here_en": "Confucius defines it by conduct, not reading: little concern for comfort, quick to act, careful in speech.", "label_en": "What counts as loving learning", "label_zh": "好学", "quote": "可谓好学也已。", "seq": 29, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "That may be called loving to learn."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The eaves of a house — and from there, room, and breadth.", "zh": "屋檐，房屋；引申为空间、气度。"}, "card_gloss_en": "eaves; space", "card_gloss_zh": "屋宇，引申为气度", "char": "宇", "collocations": ["宇清", "宇之", "文宇"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["宇宙", "屋宇"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Room to stand in, before room to be.", "zh": "「宇」先是有地方容身，才是有容。"}, "pinyin": "yǔ", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·文王之什·绵", "char_form_orig": "宇", "gloss_here": "太王带着姜女来看可以安家的地方。「宇」的本义是屋檐屋宇，名字取的是「有容身之处」，再引申为气度。", "gloss_here_en": "They come to inspect a place to live. 宇 begins as a roof, then becomes room.", "label_en": "Looking over a place to live", "label_zh": "胥宇", "quote": "爰及姜女，聿来胥宇。", "seq": 2598, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "And with the lady Jiang, he came to look over the site for a dwelling."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "To settle — a person, a house, a state.", "zh": "安定；安放。"}, "card_gloss_en": "to settle, peace", "card_gloss_zh": "安定，安人", "char": "安", "collocations": ["安之", "安民", "泰安"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["安人", "安定"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Yourself first, others after — in that order.", "zh": "「安」是先修自己，再安别人。"}, "pinyin": "ān", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "宪问篇", "char_form_orig": "安", "gloss_here": "子路问君子，孔子答：修己以敬，修己以安人，修己以安百姓。顺序不能倒——先修自己，再安别人。", "gloss_here_en": "Three steps in a fixed order: oneself, then others, then everyone. The order cannot be reversed.", "label_en": "In that order", "label_zh": "修己以安人", "quote": "修己以安人。", "seq": 944, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Cultivate yourself in order to settle others."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "A treasure — something worth keeping and passing on.", "zh": "宝物；珍贵的东西。"}, "card_gloss_en": "treasure", "card_gloss_zh": "珍宝，可传之物", "char": "宝", "collocations": ["宝之", "宝明", "家宝"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["珍宝", "宝器"], "in_a_name": {"en": "What can be handed on.", "zh": "「宝」是能传下去的东西。"}, "pinyin": "bǎo", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·荡之什·崧高", "char_form_orig": "宝", "gloss_here": "周王赐申伯大圭，让他作为传家之宝。「宝」在这里是别人给的、可以往下传的东西。", "gloss_here_en": "A jade tablet given by the king, to be kept and handed on. 宝 is what is entrusted, not what is bought.", "label_en": "Something given to keep", "label_zh": "以作尔宝", "quote": "锡尔介圭，以作尔宝。", "seq": 3157, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I bestow on you a great jade tablet, to be your treasure."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "A household — the people under one roof, before the building.", "zh": "家庭；家族。"}, "card_gloss_en": "household, family", "card_gloss_zh": "家庭，家族", "char": "家", "collocations": ["家之", "家宁", "家玉"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["家国", "世家"], "in_a_name": {"en": "The people closest, before the building.", "zh": "「家」先是最近的那圈人。"}, "pinyin": "jiā", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "颜渊篇", "char_form_orig": "家", "gloss_here": "孔子讲仁者的状态：在外没有怨，在家也没有怨。「家」在这里是最近的那圈人。", "gloss_here_en": "No resentment outward, none inward. 家 here is the circle closest to you.", "label_en": "No resentment at home or abroad", "label_zh": "在邦无怨", "quote": "在邦无怨，在家无怨。", "seq": 686, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "With no resentment in the state, and none in the household."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Mountain — the thing that stays put.", "zh": "山岳。"}, "card_gloss_en": "mountain", "card_gloss_zh": "山岳，安稳", "char": "山", "collocations": ["山之", "山明", "青山"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["山岳", "青山"], "in_a_name": {"en": "The thing that does not move.", "zh": "「山」是不动的那一样。"}, "pinyin": "shān", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "雍也篇", "char_form_orig": "山", "gloss_here": "孔子把山给了仁者：山不动，所以安。名字用「山」，取的是这个「不动」。", "gloss_here_en": "Mountains are given to the humane because they do not move.", "label_en": "Assigned to the humane", "label_zh": "仁者乐山", "quote": "知者乐水，仁者乐山。", "seq": 306, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The wise take pleasure in water; the humane take pleasure in mountains."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The high mountain.", "zh": "高大的山。"}, "card_gloss_en": "the mountain that reaches the sky", "card_gloss_zh": "高到天边的山，且有所出", "char": "岳", "collocations": ["岳之", "岳峰", "峻岳", "岳然"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["五岳", "岳峙", "山岳"], "in_a_name": {"en": "岳 gives a name weight: not beauty, but something that does not move when pushed.", "zh": "「岳」给名字的是分量：不是好看，是压得住。"}, "pinyin": "yuè", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·荡之什·崧高", "char_form_orig": "岳", "gloss_here": "「岳」在这里就是那座高到天边的山——名字用「岳」，取的是高度和分量，不是风景。", "gloss_here_en": "The 岳 here is the mountain that goes up to the sky: a name takes the height and the weight, not the view.", "label_en": "The mountain that reaches the sky", "label_zh": "高到天边的山", "quote": "崧高维岳，骏极于天。", "seq": 3138, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The great peak is the mountain; it rises to the very sky."}, {"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·荡之什·崧高", "char_form_orig": "岳", "gloss_here": "下一句就说山降下神灵，生出了甫侯和申伯——古人相信大人物是山给的。名字用「岳」，也带着这层「有所出」。", "gloss_here_en": "The next line says the mountain sent down a spirit and two great ministers were born: greatness was thought to come down from the mountain. A name takes that descent too.", "label_en": "What a mountain sends down", "label_zh": "山能生人", "quote": "维岳降神，生甫及申。", "seq": 3139, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The mountain sent down its spirit, and Fu and Shen were born."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Steep, and high with it.", "zh": "高峻的样子。"}, "card_gloss_en": "so high it has no bottom or top", "card_gloss_zh": "高峻得不见底也不见顶", "char": "峥", "collocations": ["峥之", "峥然", "峥宇", "子峥"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["峥嵘", "峥嵘岁月"], "in_a_name": {"en": "峥 is not steadiness but unusual height — it carries an edge.", "zh": "「峥」不是稳，是「不一样地高」——带一点锋利。"}, "pinyin": "zhēng", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "远游·远游", "char_form_orig": "峥", "gloss_here": "「峥嵘」在这里是高得下面没有地、上面望不到天——名字用「峥」，取的是这个「高得不寻常」。", "gloss_here_en": "Here 峥嵘 is height with no ground beneath and no sky above: a name takes the unusualness of that, not just the height.", "label_en": "So high it has neither floor nor ceiling", "label_zh": "高得没有底也望不到顶", "quote": "下峥嵘而无地兮，上寥廓而无天。", "seq": 951, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Below, the crags fall away with no ground; above, the emptiness has no sky."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "A river.", "zh": "河流。"}, "card_gloss_en": "the river that keeps going", "card_gloss_zh": "河流，不停地流", "char": "川", "collocations": ["川之", "山川", "川流", "子川"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["山川", "川流不息", "百川"], "in_a_name": {"en": "川 gives a name movement and a direction: not a pool, but something on its way somewhere.", "zh": "「川」给名字的是流动和去处：不是一潭，是往下走的。"}, "pinyin": "chuān", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子罕篇", "char_form_orig": "川", "gloss_here": "「川」在这里就是那条河。孔子看着水说时间也是这样过去的——「川」在名字里带着这层「不停」。", "gloss_here_en": "The 川 here is simply the river. Confucius watched it and said time passes the same way: a name takes that unstopping.", "label_en": "The river that keeps going", "label_zh": "河一直流", "quote": "子在川上曰：「逝者如斯夫", "seq": 491, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Standing by a river, the Master said: it goes on like this, and does not stop."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Level — and from level, settled.", "zh": "平坦；安定；公平。"}, "card_gloss_en": "level; peaceful", "card_gloss_zh": "平安，天下平", "char": "平", "collocations": ["平之", "平川", "泰平"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["平正", "太平"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Settled rather than suppressed.", "zh": "「平」是安顿出来的，不是压出来的。"}, "pinyin": "píng", "senses": [{"book": "孟子", "chapter": "離婁上", "char_form_orig": "平", "gloss_here": "孟子说的「平」不是被打平，是各人把自己的亲长照顾好之后自然出现的状态。名字用「平」，取的是这个。", "gloss_here_en": "Not pacified by force: peace as what appears when people look after their own. ", "label_en": "Settled, not conquered", "label_zh": "天下平", "quote": "人人亲其亲、长其长而天下平。", "seq": 1267, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "When everyone loves their own parents and respects their own elders, the world is at peace."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Wide — beyond crossing.", "zh": "宽广；扩大。"}, "card_gloss_en": "wide", "card_gloss_zh": "宽广，广大", "char": "广", "collocations": ["广之", "广川", "德广"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["广大", "宽广"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Breadth with weight in it.", "zh": "「广」是挡得住人的那种宽。"}, "pinyin": "guǎng", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·周南·汉广", "char_form_orig": "广", "gloss_here": "《汉广》写一条游不过去的江。「广」在名字里不是大，是「挡得住人的那种宽」。", "gloss_here_en": "Wide enough that you cannot cross. A name takes breadth with weight in it.", "label_en": "Too wide to swim", "label_zh": "汉之广矣", "quote": "汉之广矣，不可泳思。", "seq": 58, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "How wide is the Han — you cannot swim across it."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Blessing — the good that comes and is shared.", "zh": "福庆、喜庆。"}, "card_gloss_en": "blessing, joy", "card_gloss_zh": "福庆，吉庆", "char": "庆", "collocations": ["庆之", "余庆", "庆云"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["吉庆", "余庆"], "in_a_name": {"en": "A good harvest before a party.", "zh": "「庆」先是收成好，才是热闹。"}, "pinyin": "qìng", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·甫田之什·甫田", "char_form_orig": "庆", "gloss_here": "田地好，是农人的喜事。「庆」在《诗经》里先是收成，然后才是庆典。", "gloss_here_en": "In the Book of Songs the joy starts with the harvest; the festival comes after.", "label_en": "A good field is a celebration", "label_zh": "农夫之庆", "quote": "我田既臧，农夫之庆。", "seq": 2232, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "My fields have done well — it is the farmers' joy."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "To set upright, to establish — a post, a house, a state, a name.", "zh": "立起、设立；引申为创建、建树。"}, "card_gloss_en": "to establish", "card_gloss_zh": "建立，立得住", "char": "建", "collocations": ["建华", "建明", "建德", "建安"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["建树", "创建", "建安"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Making something stand, rather than making more of it.", "zh": "「建」是让人或事「立得住」，不是「造得多」。"}, "pinyin": "jiàn", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "鲁颂·駉之什·閟宫", "char_form_orig": "建", "gloss_here": "周王封周公长子于鲁。「建」在这里不是盖房子，是立起一个人、一个国。", "gloss_here_en": "The Zhou king enfeoffs the Duke of Zhou's eldest son. 建 here is to set a person — and a state — on its feet.", "label_en": "Setting someone up to stand", "label_zh": "建尔元子", "quote": "王曰叔父，建尔元子，俾侯于鲁。", "seq": 3568, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The king said: Uncle, establish your eldest son, and make him lord of Lu."}, {"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九歌·湘夫人", "char_form_orig": "建", "gloss_here": "《湘夫人》布置祭堂：百草满院，把「芳馨」立起来。「建」的对象可以是一座屋，也可以是一种气味。", "gloss_here_en": "From the布置 of a shrine: 建 takes as its object not only houses but a fragrance.", "label_en": "Raising something worth raising", "label_zh": "建芳馨", "quote": "合百草兮实庭，建芳馨兮庑门。", "seq": 240, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Gather a hundred herbs to fill the courtyard; set up fragrance at the side doors."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Strength — and the resilience that outlasts force.", "zh": "刚健有力；引申为坚韧。"}, "card_gloss_en": "strength, resilience", "card_gloss_zh": "刚健，自强", "char": "强", "collocations": ["自强", "志强", "强之"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["刚强", "自强"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Holding yourself up, not pushing others down.", "zh": "「强」是扶住自己，不是压住别人。"}, "pinyin": "qiáng", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九章·怀沙", "char_form_orig": "强", "gloss_here": "屈原写的是把怒气按下去、把自己扶起来。「自强」不是压过别人，是不让自己塌下去。", "gloss_here_en": "Not overcoming others: keeping yourself from collapsing.", "label_en": "Holding yourself steady", "label_zh": "自强", "quote": "惩违改忿兮，抑心而自强。", "seq": 704, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Chastened by failure, I set anger aside; I restrain my heart and strengthen myself."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Red — the deep ceremonial red.", "zh": "红色。"}, "card_gloss_en": "red", "card_gloss_zh": "红色，彤管", "char": "彤", "collocations": ["彤之", "彤霞", "丹彤"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["彤管", "彤云"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Ceremonial red, not festive red.", "zh": "「彤」是带礼制的红。"}, "pinyin": "tóng", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·邶风·静女", "char_form_orig": "彤", "gloss_here": "彤管是赤管的笔，古时女史所用。「彤」在名字里是这种带礼制的红，不是热闹的红。", "gloss_here_en": "A red writing tube — an emblem, not a decoration. 彤 is ceremonial red.", "label_en": "A gift of red", "label_zh": "贻我彤管", "quote": "静女其娈，贻我彤管。", "seq": 354, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The quiet girl is lovely; she gave me a red-tasselled tube."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "What a person has taken into themselves and shows in action — character, and also the good one has received.", "zh": "得之于心、行之于外的东西；品德、恩德。"}, "card_gloss_en": "virtue", "card_gloss_zh": "德行，立身之本", "char": "德", "collocations": ["德明", "德厚", "德远", "德音"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["厚德", "明德", "德音"], "in_a_name": {"en": "The part of a person that cannot be taken away from them.", "zh": "「德」是一个人身上别人拿不走的那部分。"}, "pinyin": "dé", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "里仁篇", "char_form_orig": "德", "gloss_here": "六个字，是《论语》里最短的判断之一：好东西不会自己待着，会把人聚过来。", "gloss_here_en": "Six characters, one of the shortest claims in the Analects: what is good does not stay by itself — it attracts.", "label_en": "Character gathers people", "label_zh": "德不孤", "quote": "德不孤，必有邻。", "seq": 183, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Virtue is never alone; it is bound to have neighbours."}, {"book": "大学", "chapter": "", "char_form_orig": "德", "gloss_here": "「润」是渗进去的那种润：钱装点房子，德装点人本身。这是「德」和「才」最大的区别。", "gloss_here_en": "润 is a soaking-through kind of enrichment. Money decorates the house; 德 changes the person. That is the difference between 德 and talent.", "label_en": "What actually improves you", "label_zh": "润身", "quote": "富润屋，德润身，心广体胖。", "seq": 15, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Wealth adorns the house; virtue adorns the person — the heart broadens and the body is at ease."}, {"book": "中庸", "chapter": "", "char_form_orig": "德", "gloss_here": "《中庸》把「寿」放在最后，是说前三个是过程，寿是结果——德厚的人走得久。名字用「德」，这一层是老派的祝福。", "gloss_here_en": "The Book of Rites puts longevity last: position, reward and name are the course, long years the outcome.", "label_en": "The long consequence", "label_zh": "大德得其寿", "quote": "故大德必得其位，必得其禄，必得其名，必得其寿。", "seq": 69, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Thus great virtue is sure to win its place, its reward, its name, and its length of years."}], "tier": "A", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Where the heart is pointed — intention, and the will that keeps it pointed.", "zh": "心之所向；志向、意志。"}, "card_gloss_en": "will", "card_gloss_zh": "志向，心之所向", "char": "志", "collocations": ["志远", "志清", "志明", "志行"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["志气", "弘志", "笃志"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Direction, not ambition.", "zh": "「志」是方向，不是野心。"}, "pinyin": "zhì", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子罕篇", "char_form_orig": "志", "gloss_here": "两千多年里，中国人说「骨气」时引的就是这一句。名字用「志」，分量全在这里。", "gloss_here_en": "For two thousand years this is the line Chinese reaches for when talking about backbone.", "label_en": "The one thing that cannot be taken", "label_zh": "不可夺", "quote": "三军可夺帅也，匹夫不可夺志也。", "seq": 508, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "An army can be deprived of its general; a common man cannot be deprived of his will."}, {"book": "论语", "chapter": "述而篇", "char_form_orig": "志", "gloss_here": "四个动词排成一句：先是「志」，然后是「据」「依」「游」。立志不是终点，是起点那一格。", "gloss_here_en": "Four verbs in a row. Setting the will is the first move, not the whole of it.", "label_en": "What the will is pointed at matters", "label_zh": "志于道", "quote": "志于道，据于德，依于仁，游于艺。", "seq": 333, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Set your will on the Way, hold to virtue, lean on humaneness, and move freely in the arts."}, {"book": "孟子", "chapter": "公孫丑上", "char_form_orig": "志", "gloss_here": "孟子把「志」放在统帅的位置：不是力气最大的人走最远，是知道往哪走的人。", "gloss_here_en": "Mencius puts the will in command: not the strongest person goes furthest, but the one who knows where.", "label_en": "The will leads", "label_zh": "气之帅", "quote": "夫志，气之帅也；气，体之充也。", "seq": 474, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The will is the commander of the vital energy; that energy fills the body."}], "tier": "A", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Doing what one is entrusted with, with one's whole effort.", "zh": "尽心竭力；忠于所事。"}, "card_gloss_en": "wholeheartedness", "card_gloss_zh": "尽心，忠信", "char": "忠", "collocations": ["忠之", "忠信", "世忠"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["忠信", "忠厚"], "in_a_name": {"en": "The weight you carry for what was entrusted to you.", "zh": "「忠」是对托付的分量。"}, "pinyin": "zhōng", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "述而篇", "char_form_orig": "忠", "gloss_here": "孔子教四样：文、行、忠、信。「忠」与「信」并列，讲的是对人的分量，不是对上的服从。", "gloss_here_en": "Four things taught, with 忠 standing beside 信 — weight toward people.", "label_en": "One of four things taught", "label_zh": "四教", "quote": "子以四教：文，行，忠，信。", "seq": 367, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The Master taught four things: culture, conduct, wholeheartedness, and good faith."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "To think — and to keep someone in mind.", "zh": "思考；思念。"}, "card_gloss_en": "to think", "card_gloss_zh": "思考，深思", "char": "思", "collocations": ["思之", "思远", "思齐"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["思之", "深思"], "in_a_name": {"en": "It only works paired with learning.", "zh": "「思」要和「学」绑在一起才成立。"}, "pinyin": "sī", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "为政篇", "char_form_orig": "思", "gloss_here": "孔子把学和思绑在一起：只学不想会糊涂，只想不学会危险。名字用「思」，取的是这个「不能停」。", "gloss_here_en": "Confucius ties them: one without the other fails. A name takes the pairing, not just the verb.", "label_en": "Neither alone", "label_zh": "学与思", "quote": "学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆。", "seq": 62, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Learning without thinking leaves you bewildered; thinking without learning leaves you in danger."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Pleasant — of a face at ease.", "zh": "和悦；安适。"}, "card_gloss_en": "pleasant, at ease", "card_gloss_zh": "和悦，安适", "char": "怡", "collocations": ["怡之", "怡和", "欣怡"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["怡然", "和怡"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Ease that comes from inside.", "zh": "「怡」是里外都舒展。"}, "pinyin": "yí", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "大招·大招", "char_form_orig": "怡", "gloss_here": "《大招》写人的气色：面色和悦、气血充足。「怡」在名字里是这种从里到外的舒展。", "gloss_here_en": "A face at ease because the body is well. 怡 here is ease that starts inside.", "label_en": "The look of someone at ease", "label_zh": "曼泽怡面", "quote": "曼泽怡面，血气盛只。", "seq": 1382, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Smooth and glowing, the face is at ease; the blood and breath are full."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Glad — the quiet kind.", "zh": "喜悦。"}, "card_gloss_en": "glad, quietly", "card_gloss_zh": "心里的喜欢，不外露", "char": "怿", "collocations": ["怿之", "悦怿", "怿然", "子怿"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["悦怿", "怿然"], "in_a_name": {"en": "怿 is liking held in: one notch quieter than 悦.", "zh": "「怿」是克制的喜欢——比「悦」安静一档。"}, "pinyin": "yì", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·邶风·静女", "char_form_orig": "怿", "gloss_here": "「怿」在这里是「喜欢」——不是大笑，是心里觉得好。这个字在名字里少见，取的正是这份克制。", "gloss_here_en": "怿 here is being pleased: not laughter, but the mind deciding that something is good. It is rare in names, and takes its value from that restraint.", "label_en": "Glad, quietly", "label_zh": "心里觉得好", "quote": "彤管有炜，说怿女美。", "seq": 355, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The red flute glows; I am glad in your beauty."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Quiet, and untroubled inside the quiet.", "zh": "安静、安然。"}, "card_gloss_en": "quiet with contentment inside it", "card_gloss_zh": "安静而内含愉快", "char": "恬", "collocations": ["恬之", "恬然", "恬静", "恬月"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["恬淡", "恬静", "恬然"], "in_a_name": {"en": "恬 in a name is not the absence of feeling; it is not being pushed around by it.", "zh": "「恬」不是没情绪，是不被情绪推着走。"}, "pinyin": "tián", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "远游·远游", "char_form_orig": "恬", "gloss_here": "「恬」和「愉」连用：不是麻木的静，是静里面还有愉快——名字取的是这一层。", "gloss_here_en": "恬 is paired here with 愉: not the numbness of stillness, but stillness with gladness still in it.", "label_en": "Quiet with gladness inside it", "label_zh": "静里有愉快", "quote": "漠虚静以恬愉兮，澹无为而自得。", "seq": 873, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Still and empty, calm and glad; unmoved, and finding sufficiency in that."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Glad — and the making glad.", "zh": "喜悦；使高兴。"}, "card_gloss_en": "glad", "card_gloss_zh": "喜悦，欢悦", "char": "悦", "collocations": ["悦之", "心悦", "和悦"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["欢悦", "怡悦"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Gladness you cause in others.", "zh": "「悦」是别人因你而高兴。"}, "pinyin": "yuè", "senses": [{"book": "孟子", "chapter": "梁惠王下", "char_form_orig": "悅", "gloss_here": "孟子写商汤征伐：百姓高兴得像下了及时雨。「悦」在这里不是自己的心情，是别人因你而高兴。", "gloss_here_en": "Here 悦 is not one's own mood but what others feel because of you.", "label_en": "How people answer", "label_zh": "民大悦", "quote": "诛其君而吊其民，若时雨降，民大悦。", "seq": 349, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "They put the ruler to death and comforted the people; it was like timely rain — and the people were glad."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Benefit given — and the gentleness that gives it.", "zh": "恩惠；柔和。"}, "card_gloss_en": "kindness, benefit", "card_gloss_zh": "恩惠，惠泽", "char": "惠", "collocations": ["惠之", "惠和", "清惠"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["惠泽", "恩惠"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Benefit that people can feel.", "zh": "「惠」是实实在在给人好处。"}, "pinyin": "huì", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "阳货篇", "char_form_orig": "惠", "gloss_here": "孔子答子张问仁，给了五项，最后一项是「惠」——给人好处。", "gloss_here_en": "The last of five answers to \"what is humaneness\": being of benefit to people.", "label_en": "The fifth of five", "label_zh": "恭宽信敏惠", "quote": "恭、宽、信、敏、惠。", "seq": 1094, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Reverent, generous, trustworthy, quick, and kind."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Quick understanding — and what it costs to get it.", "zh": "聪慧；明察。"}, "card_gloss_en": "understanding", "card_gloss_zh": "聪慧，明察", "char": "慧", "collocations": ["慧之", "慧明", "慧心"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["德慧", "智慧"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Clarity that grew out of something hard.", "zh": "「慧」是从难处长的清明。"}, "pinyin": "huì", "senses": [{"book": "孟子", "chapter": "盡心上", "char_form_orig": "慧", "gloss_here": "孟子说得直白：有德慧术知的人，多半是从患难里长出来的。「慧」因此不是轻巧的聪明。", "gloss_here_en": "Mencius is blunt: such people usually get it from hardship. 慧 is not the light kind of cleverness.", "label_en": "Where understanding comes from", "label_zh": "德慧术知", "quote": "人之有德慧术知者，恒存乎疢疾。", "seq": 2252, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "People who have virtue, understanding, skill and knowledge usually have them from hardship."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "To complete, to become — and so achievement.", "zh": "完成、成为；引申为成就。"}, "card_gloss_en": "to complete, to form", "card_gloss_zh": "成就，长成了形", "char": "成", "collocations": ["成之", "成器", "玉成", "成蹊"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["成章", "玉成"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Having taken shape, not having arrived.", "zh": "「成」是长成了形，不是到了终点。"}, "pinyin": "chéng", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "公冶长篇", "char_form_orig": "成", "gloss_here": "「成章」是已经有了文采与章法，但还没裁到定。名字用「成」，取的是「长成了形」这一层。", "gloss_here_en": "They have form but not finish. 成 in a name is having taken shape, not having arrived.", "label_en": "Formed, not yet finished", "label_zh": "斐然成章", "quote": "吾党之小子狂简，斐然成章，不知所以裁之。", "seq": 246, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The young men of my home village are ardent and ambitious; their writing has real form — they just do not yet know how to cut it."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "To lift — a wing, a cause, a person.", "zh": "举起、振作。"}, "card_gloss_en": "to lift, to rouse", "card_gloss_zh": "振作，振翅", "char": "振", "collocations": ["振之", "振宇", "振华"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["振作", "振羽"], "in_a_name": {"en": "A wing lifting, before anything larger.", "zh": "「振」先是翅膀抬起来。"}, "pinyin": "zhèn", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "周颂·臣工之什·振鹭", "char_form_orig": "振", "gloss_here": "《振鹭》写白鹭振翅飞起。「振」先是翅膀的动作，后来才变成「振兴」的振。", "gloss_here_en": "The character starts as a wing going up; \"to revitalise\" comes later.", "label_en": "Wings coming up", "label_zh": "振鹭于飞", "quote": "振鹭于飞，于彼西雍。", "seq": 3390, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The egrets beat their wings and rise — there, at the western pool."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Quick — of hand, of mind, of response.", "zh": "敏捷、聪敏。"}, "card_gloss_en": "quick, discerning", "card_gloss_zh": "敏捷，敏于行", "char": "敏", "collocations": ["敏之", "志敏", "敏学"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["聪敏", "敏行"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Quickness in doing, not in talking.", "zh": "「敏」在做事上，不在说话上。"}, "pinyin": "mǐn", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "里仁篇", "char_form_orig": "敏", "gloss_here": "孔子把「敏」和「讷」放在一句里：话要慢，事要快。名字用「敏」，取的是后者。", "gloss_here_en": "Confucius pairs slowness of speech with quickness of action. A name takes the second.", "label_en": "Slow to speak, quick to do", "label_zh": "讷言敏行", "quote": "君子欲讷于言而敏于行。", "seq": 182, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A gentleman wants to be slow in speech and quick in action."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Pattern — the grain in wood, then writing, speech, and the whole apparatus of ritual and music; the counterpart of 质, the unpolished substance underneath.", "zh": "交错的纹理；引申为文采、辞令、礼乐典章，与「质」（内在的底子）相对。"}, "card_gloss_en": "pattern and learning", "card_gloss_zh": "文采与学养", "char": "文", "collocations": ["文轩", "文博", "文清", "文远", "文华"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["文质彬彬", "温文", "斯文"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Not \"good at writing\" but a formed mind — learning plus proportion.", "zh": "「文」在名字里不是「会写文章」，是学养加分寸。"}, "pinyin": "wén", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "公冶长篇", "char_form_orig": "文", "gloss_here": "孔子在解释「文」这个谥号时，给的答案不是文章写得好，而是「好学」且「下问」。这是「文」在名字里最实在的一层。", "gloss_here_en": "When Confucius explains the posthumous title 文, he does not say the man wrote well. He says he loved learning and was not ashamed to ask. That is the sense a name borrows.", "label_en": "Learning is what makes it", "label_zh": "学而成文", "quote": "敏而好学，不耻下问，是以谓之文也。", "seq": 225, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Quick, fond of learning, and not ashamed to ask those beneath him — that is why he is called Wen."}, {"book": "论语", "chapter": "雍也篇", "char_form_orig": "文", "gloss_here": "「质」是底子，「文」是修饰；单有文则浮，单有质则野。名字用「文」，取的是两者相半的分寸。", "gloss_here_en": "Substance without pattern is raw; pattern without substance is装饰. 文 in a name is the balance, not the decoration.", "label_en": "Pattern held by substance", "label_zh": "文质相济", "quote": "文质彬彬，然后君子。", "seq": 300, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "When pattern and substance are in balance, then you have a gentleman."}, {"book": "论语", "chapter": "八佾篇", "char_form_orig": "文", "gloss_here": "「郁郁」是草木繁盛之貌，这里形容一整套礼乐典章。「文」在最高一层指的不是文字，是一个文明的秩序与光彩。", "gloss_here_en": "郁郁 describes things growing thick. At its largest, 文 is not writing but a civilisation's order and lustre.", "label_en": "A civilisation in full", "label_zh": "礼乐之盛", "quote": "周监于二代，郁郁乎文哉！", "seq": 112, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The Zhou looked to the two dynasties before it — how rich and full its culture was!"}], "tier": "A", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Newly come into being — the counterpart of old.", "zh": "刚出现的；与「旧」相对。"}, "card_gloss_en": "new, renewed", "card_gloss_zh": "更新，温故知新", "char": "新", "collocations": ["日新", "新之", "维新", "新雨"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["日新", "新阳"], "in_a_name": {"en": "What grows out of what came before.", "zh": "「新」是从旧里长出来的那一层。"}, "pinyin": "xīn", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "为政篇", "char_form_orig": "新", "gloss_here": "孔子说的「新」不是凭空全新，是从旧里长出来的。名字用「新」，这一层比「崭新」耐读。", "gloss_here_en": "For Confucius the new grows out of the old rather than replacing it. A name takes this sense, not \"brand new\".", "label_en": "New comes out of old", "label_zh": "温故知新", "quote": "温故而知新，可以为师矣。", "seq": 57, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Review what is old and come to know what is new — then you can be a teacher."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The sun just up.", "zh": "初升的太阳。"}, "card_gloss_en": "the sun just up", "card_gloss_zh": "初升的太阳", "char": "旭", "collocations": ["旭之", "旭日", "晨旭", "旭阳"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["旭日", "旭日东升", "朝旭"], "in_a_name": {"en": "旭 is the beginning rather than noon: the part of the day where there is still time.", "zh": "「旭」是开始，不是正午——名字取的是「还来得及」那一段。"}, "pinyin": "xù", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·邶风·匏有苦叶", "char_form_orig": "旭", "gloss_here": "「旭日」是刚出来的太阳——不是日头，是日头刚起的那一刻，天刚亮，雁在叫。", "gloss_here_en": "旭日 is the sun newly up: not the sun at height, but the moment it clears the horizon and the geese start calling.", "label_en": "The moment the sun is up", "label_zh": "太阳刚起的那一刻", "quote": "雍雍鸣雁，旭日始旦。", "seq": 265, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The geese call in unison; the rising sun begins the day."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "To flourish — of a house, a line, an age.", "zh": "兴盛；美好。"}, "card_gloss_en": "to flourish", "card_gloss_zh": "昌盛，兴旺", "char": "昌", "collocations": ["昌之", "昌明", "世昌"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["昌盛", "永昌"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Making those who come after do well.", "zh": "「昌」是让后面的人过得好。"}, "pinyin": "chāng", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "周颂·臣工之什·雝", "char_form_orig": "昌", "gloss_here": "「克昌厥后」是能使后代昌盛。「昌」在这里是动词——让后面的人过得好。", "gloss_here_en": "Here 昌 is transitive: to make those who come after flourish.", "label_en": "Making what comes after you prosper", "label_zh": "克昌厥后", "quote": "燕及皇天，克昌厥后。", "seq": 3413, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "It reaches up to great Heaven, and can make those who come after prosper."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Bright — light itself, and by extension to see clearly, to make something visible.", "zh": "光亮；引申为明白、彰明、使显。"}, "card_gloss_en": "bright, clear", "card_gloss_zh": "光明，看得清", "char": "明", "collocations": ["明远", "明轩", "明诚", "明哲", "明川"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["明月", "明德", "启明"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Two things: light, and the ability to see by it.", "zh": "「明」给名字的是两样：光，和看得清。"}, "pinyin": "míng", "senses": [{"book": "大学", "chapter": "", "char_form_orig": "明", "gloss_here": "第一个「明」是动词：把本来就有的德照亮。名字用「明」，最常取的就是这一层——不是聪明，是让好东西显出来。", "gloss_here_en": "The first 明 is a verb: to bring an inherited virtue into the light. Not cleverness — visibility.", "label_en": "Making the good visible", "label_zh": "明德", "quote": "大学之道，在明明德，在亲民，在止于至善。", "seq": 2, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The way of great learning is to make bright the bright virtue, to renew the people, and to rest in the highest good."}, {"book": "中庸", "chapter": "", "char_form_orig": "明", "gloss_here": "五个动词的第四步。学、问、思之后仍可能糊涂，「明辨」是分得清；最后还要「笃行」。", "gloss_here_en": "The fourth of five steps: after learning, asking and thinking, you still have to be able to tell things apart — and then to act.", "label_en": "Seeing the difference", "label_zh": "明辨", "quote": "博学之，审问之，慎思之，明辨之，笃行之。", "seq": 116, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Learn broadly, question closely, think carefully, distinguish clearly, and act earnestly."}, {"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·郑风·女曰鸡鸣", "char_form_orig": "明", "gloss_here": "「明星」是启明星（金星），天将亮未亮时最亮的那颗。名字里的「明」也常取这一层：先于天亮的光。", "gloss_here_en": "The bright star is Venus, at its most brilliant just before daybreak — light that arrives before the light.", "label_en": "The star before dawn", "label_zh": "启明", "quote": "子兴视夜，明星有烂。", "seq": 703, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "He rises and looks at the night: the bright star is shining."}], "tier": "A", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Spring — the season when warmth returns and things start growing again.", "zh": "四季之首；回暖、生发的季节。"}, "card_gloss_en": "spring, returning warmth", "card_gloss_zh": "春天，回暖生发", "char": "春", "collocations": ["春和", "春晖", "景春", "春晓"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["春日", "春阳", "阳春"], "in_a_name": {"en": "The turn toward warmth, rather than flowers.", "zh": "「春」给名字的是回暖的那一下，不是花。"}, "pinyin": "chūn", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·豳风·七月", "char_form_orig": "春", "gloss_here": "《七月》写农事历，这是春天开始的那一句：太阳回暖，黄鸟开叫。名字里的「春」是这一层——不是季节名，是回暖。", "gloss_here_en": "The first line of spring in an agricultural calendar: warmth returning, birds calling. 春 in a name is that return, not a calendar entry.", "label_en": "Warmth coming back", "label_zh": "春日载阳", "quote": "春日载阳，有鸣仓庚。", "seq": 1281, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "In the spring days the warmth returns; the orioles begin to call."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Daybreak — and, by extension, to understand.", "zh": "天亮；明白。"}, "card_gloss_en": "dawn", "card_gloss_zh": "天亮，拂晓", "char": "晓", "collocations": ["晓之", "晓风", "明晓"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["拂晓", "晓白"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Daybreak first, understanding second.", "zh": "「晓」先是天亮。"}, "pinyin": "xiǎo", "senses": [{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "孟浩然《春曉》", "char_form_orig": "曉", "gloss_here": "「晓」在这里就是天亮，不是「知道」。名字用「晓」，多数取的是这个字面：天亮了。", "gloss_here_en": "Here 晓 is simply daybreak, not \"to know\". A name usually takes the literal sense.", "label_en": "Daybreak arriving unnoticed", "label_zh": "春眠不觉晓", "quote": "春眠不觉晓，处处闻啼鸟。", "seq": 10, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Sleeping in spring, I did not notice the dawn — birds were calling everywhere."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Early morning — the moment before light.", "zh": "清晨；天将亮。"}, "card_gloss_en": "early morning", "card_gloss_zh": "清晨，晨光", "char": "晨", "collocations": ["晨之", "晨光", "晓晨"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["清晨", "晨光"], "in_a_name": {"en": "The seam just before the light.", "zh": "「晨」是刚要亮的那一刻。"}, "pinyin": "chén", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·鸿雁之什·庭燎", "char_form_orig": "晨", "gloss_here": "「乡」通「向」：夜将尽、天未亮。「晨」在名字里取的是这个交界——不是白天，是刚要亮。", "gloss_here_en": "The night turns toward morning. 晨 is not daytime; it is the seam just before it.", "label_en": "Just before it is light", "label_zh": "夜乡晨", "quote": "夜乡晨，庭燎有辉。", "seq": 1680, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The night turns toward morning; the courtyard torches still give light."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The light of the early sun, still low.", "zh": "早晨初升的日光。"}, "card_gloss_en": "first sunlight, at a slant", "card_gloss_zh": "初升的、斜着的那道光", "char": "曦", "collocations": ["晨曦", "曦之", "沐曦", "曦月"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["晨曦", "曦光", "曦和"], "in_a_name": {"en": "曦 gives a name the first light of the day, not the glare at noon.", "zh": "「曦」给名字的是一天最开始那点光，不是正午的烈。"}, "pinyin": "xī", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九歌·少司命", "char_form_orig": "曦", "gloss_here": "此句的「曦」是晒干头发的那道光——太阳刚出来、还斜着的时候，不是正午。", "gloss_here_en": "The 曦 here is the light that dries her hair: the sun just up and still low, not at noon.", "label_en": "First light, at a slant", "label_zh": "初升的日光", "quote": "与女沐兮咸池，曦女发兮阳之阿", "seq": 268, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I will wash with you in the Xian pool, and dry your hair in the sun on the slope of Yang."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The moon — the same one seen from two places.", "zh": "月亮。"}, "card_gloss_en": "the moon", "card_gloss_zh": "月亮，明月", "char": "月", "collocations": ["月之", "望月", "明月"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["明月", "月华"], "in_a_name": {"en": "The same one, wherever you are.", "zh": "「月」是隔多远都同一个。"}, "pinyin": "yuè", "senses": [{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "張九齡《望月懷遠》", "char_form_orig": "月", "gloss_here": "张九龄写思念：月亮从海上升起来，隔得再远看的也是同一个。名字用「月」，取的是这个「共」。", "gloss_here_en": "However far apart, it is the same moon. A name takes the sharedness.", "label_en": "One moon, two places", "label_zh": "海上生明月", "quote": "海上生明月，天涯共此时。", "seq": 11, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The bright moon rises over the sea; from the ends of the earth we share this hour."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Bright, and clear with it.", "zh": "明亮、清朗。"}, "card_gloss_en": "bright, and clear to the end", "card_gloss_zh": "明亮清朗，始终不浑", "char": "朗", "collocations": ["朗之", "明朗", "朗月", "子朗"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["明朗", "朗月", "清朗", "朗朗"], "in_a_name": {"en": "朗 gives a name the ability to see clearly — outward, and inward too.", "zh": "「朗」给名字的是「照得清楚」——对外看得明白，对内也不含糊。"}, "pinyin": "lǎng", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·生民之什·既醉", "char_form_orig": "朗", "gloss_here": "「高朗令终」是祝辞：又高又亮，一直到善终。名字用「朗」，取的是这个「始终都清亮」。", "gloss_here_en": "High and clear to a good end is a blessing formula: 朗 in a name is brightness that does not cloud over at the finish.", "label_en": "Bright, and clear to the end", "label_zh": "一直亮到最后", "quote": "昭明有融，高朗令终，令终有俶。", "seq": 2795, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Bright and far-reaching, high and clear to a good end; and the good end has a beginning."}, {"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九思·守志", "char_form_orig": "朗", "gloss_here": "这里的「朗」是三光照下来、什么都照得见的那种亮——不是柔和，是照得清楚。", "gloss_here_en": "Here 朗 is the light of sun, moon and stars falling like a mirror: not softness, but being able to see everything clearly.", "label_en": "Light like a mirror", "label_zh": "像镜面一样的光", "quote": "天庭明兮云霓藏，三光朗兮镜万方。", "seq": 2355, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The sky is bright and the clouds withdraw; sun, moon and stars shine like a mirror on everything."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "One who stands out among others.", "zh": "才智出众的人。"}, "card_gloss_en": "outstanding", "card_gloss_zh": "豪杰，才智出众", "char": "杰", "collocations": ["杰之", "士杰", "英杰"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["豪杰", "俊杰"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Standing out in a way that does something.", "zh": "「杰」是出众，而且有用。"}, "pinyin": "jié", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "大招·大招", "char_form_orig": "杰", "gloss_here": "《大招》设想的好世道：有本事的人在位，好处流到下面。名字用「杰」，取的是「出众且有用」。", "gloss_here_en": "A good order imagined: the able hold office and the benefit reaches down.", "label_en": "When the able are in place", "label_zh": "豪杰执政", "quote": "豪杰执政，流泽施只。", "seq": 1406, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "When men of ability hold office, their benefit flows outward."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The pine: an evergreen that keeps its needles through the winter, with a straight trunk and timber hard enough to build with.", "zh": "常绿乔木，经冬不凋；干直而材坚，可为栋梁。"}, "card_gloss_en": "evergreen pine", "card_gloss_zh": "青松，经冬不凋", "char": "松", "collocations": [{"note_en": "Pine below, cloud above, meeting in the middle — the literal picture in Lin Songyun.", "note_zh": "松在上、云在下相接，正是「林松云」这幅画的画法。", "zh": "松云"}, {"note_en": "Green is what it already is, and winter does not change it.", "note_zh": "青是它的本色：入了冬也不改。", "zh": "青松"}, {"note_en": "Firm here means upright, not old.", "note_zh": "劲不是老，是挺。", "zh": "劲松"}, {"note_en": "Moonlight caught between pines.", "note_zh": "松间的月色。", "zh": "松月"}, {"note_en": "A pine growing out of rock, roots holding on.", "note_zh": "松生在石上，根抓得住。", "zh": "松岩"}], "confusable": null, "etymology": {"en": "A phono-semantic compound — 木 (wood) classes it, 公 (gōng) carries the sound.", "zh": "形声字：从木、公声。木是它的类属，公是它的读音。"}, "imagery": [{"en": "the three friends of winter", "note_en": "Pine, bamboo, plum — the three that still stand when the year turns.", "note_zh": "松、竹、梅：三样在冬天还站得住的东西。", "zh": "岁寒三友"}, {"en": "pine and crane", "note_en": "The pine that does not die of winter, the crane that lives longest. Together: a wish for a long life.", "note_zh": "松不老，鹤最长寿；合起来是一句祝寿的话。", "zh": "松鹤延年"}, {"en": "wind in the pines", "note_en": "The sound of wind moving through pines, heard as something clean and unhurried.", "note_zh": "穿过松林的风声，古人听作清雅之音。", "zh": "松风"}, {"en": "pine surf", "note_en": "Pines under a strong wind, sounding like the sea coming in.", "note_zh": "风大时松林起伏，声如海潮。", "zh": "松涛"}, {"en": "a single pine", "note_en": "One pine standing by itself — the image of not leaning on anything.", "note_zh": "一株独立，多用来写不依附。", "zh": "孤松"}], "in_a_name": {"en": "Weight rather than softness. 松 gives a name something that holds, and holds for a long time — and that keeps growing while nobody is watching.", "zh": "「松」给名字的是分量：撑得住，而且撑得久——还有一层，现在还没长成，也照样往上长。"}, "pinyin": "sōng", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子罕篇", "char_form_orig": "松", "gloss_here": "这句写的是树，落点在人：众芳都谢了，它还在——名字里的「松」取的就是这一层。", "gloss_here_en": "The tree is the vehicle, not the point: what is being named is the thing that is still standing when everyone else has gone.", "label_en": "Integrity that holds when the season turns", "label_zh": "守节不移", "quote": "岁寒，然后知松柏之后凋也。", "seq": 512, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Only when the year turns cold do we learn that the pine and the cypress are the last to let go."}, {"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "杜甫《將赴成都草堂途中有作先寄嚴鄭公五首 四》", "char_form_orig": "松", "gloss_here": "「新松」是他亲手种下的幼松，恨它长得不够快；下一句紧接着说杂竹该砍。一句里同时有护持与取舍——名字里的「松」，许的正是这份「将来要比现在高」。", "gloss_here_en": "The pines are the ones he planted himself, and he is impatient for them to be tall. A name that uses 松 is a wish about a height that has not arrived yet.", "label_en": "Still growing, and nobody has noticed yet", "label_zh": "少年终成栋梁", "quote": "新松恨不高千尺，恶竹应须斩万竿。", "seq": 17, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I wish the young pines would grow a thousand feet at once — and the bad bamboo should be cut back by the ten thousand."}, {"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "李白《古風 十二》", "char_form_orig": "松", "gloss_here": "桃李有花，松柏没有。李白把「不开花」写成一种品格：不肯为了被喜欢而开花。", "gloss_here_en": "Peach and plum have blossoms; pine and cypress do not. Not flowering is put forward here as a character, not as a lack.", "label_en": "Straight, and not flowering to please", "label_zh": "孤直不媚", "quote": "松柏本孤直，难为桃李颜。", "seq": 14, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The pine and the cypress are straight and stand alone; they cannot put on the face of peach and plum."}, {"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·鹿鸣之什·天保", "char_form_orig": "松", "gloss_here": "「松柏之茂」是先秦祝寿辞，取常青不凋、子孙承继之义；今天寿匾上仍写这四个字。", "gloss_here_en": "A birthday blessing: the pine as the tree that does not end, and a household that keeps going after you.", "label_en": "Long life, and what outlasts you", "label_zh": "长寿与荫庇", "quote": "如松柏之茂，无不尔或承。", "seq": 1454, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "May you flourish like the pine and the cypress — and may everything you have be carried on by those who come after."}, {"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·鸿雁之什·斯干", "char_form_orig": "松", "gloss_here": "此句为落成新居时所歌：竹言其根固，松言其叶茂——根扎得住，枝叶还长得开。", "gloss_here_en": "Bamboo for the root, pine for the canopy: anchored, and still growing.", "label_en": "A house that holds", "label_zh": "家宅与后代", "quote": "如竹苞矣，如松茂矣。", "seq": 1739, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Firm as bamboo roots, lush as pines."}, {"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "王維《酬張少府》", "char_form_orig": "松", "gloss_here": "「解带」是松下宽衣的自在。名字里的「松」也有这一层：不必时刻绷着。", "gloss_here_en": "To undo the belt under the pines is to stop holding yourself in. The name carries that too — not everything has to stay taut.", "label_en": "The wind in the pines, and undoing the belt", "label_zh": "松风解带", "quote": "松风吹解带，山月照弹琴。", "seq": 15, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The wind through the pines is enough to undo my belt; the mountain moon lights my lute."}, {"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "李白《聽蜀僧濬彈琴》", "char_form_orig": "松", "gloss_here": "琴声被听成满山松涛。松在这里给的是「大」——这声音有山谷那么宽。", "gloss_here_en": "The lute is heard as surf running through a whole range of hills. Here 松 is a measure of scale.", "label_en": "A sound with a valley in it", "label_zh": "万壑松声", "quote": "为我一挥手，如听万壑松。", "seq": 16, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "He lifts his hand once for me, and I hear pines in ten thousand valleys."}, {"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "王維《山居秋暝》", "char_form_orig": "松", "gloss_here": "此处「松」是成片的林；它给这个字补上的，除了硬，还有静与清。", "gloss_here_en": "Here 松 is a grove rather than one tree; this is the line that gives the character its quietness, not only its toughness.", "label_en": "Clear, and a little removed from the world", "label_zh": "高洁清朗", "quote": "明月松间照，清泉石上流。", "seq": 1, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Moonlight falls between the pines; a clear spring runs over the stones."}], "tier": "A", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "A stand of trees; two trees side by side make the character.", "zh": "成片的树；双木为林。"}, "card_gloss_en": "a grove", "card_gloss_zh": "成片的树", "char": "林", "collocations": ["松林", "林泉", "林壑", "林风"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["林木", "林泉", "山林"], "in_a_name": {"en": "A grove rather than a single tree: 林 gives the name a place to be, not just an object.", "zh": "「林」在名字里不是一个字，是一片地方——它让名字有了可以待着的地方感。"}, "pinyin": "lín", "senses": [{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "王維《輞川集 鹿柴》", "char_form_orig": "林", "gloss_here": "此处「林」是成片的树，取幽深、静而不死之意——光还进得去。", "gloss_here_en": "Not a wilderness: a wood deep enough to be quiet, with light still getting through.", "label_en": "Deep shade, living growth", "label_zh": "幽深与生机", "quote": "返景入深林，复照青苔上。", "seq": 2, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The low sun enters the deep wood and lights the moss again."}, {"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "王維《輞川集 竹里館》", "char_form_orig": "林", "gloss_here": "「深林」是人所不到之处，句子的落点是「明月来相照」——独处，但有人（有月）应。", "gloss_here_en": "The wood is where people are not; the moon answers instead. Solitude that is not abandonment.", "label_en": "Alone without being lonely", "label_zh": "独处而不孤", "quote": "深林人不知，明月来相照。", "seq": 3, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Deep in the wood, no one knows I am here; the bright moon comes to keep me company."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The maple; its leaves turn red in autumn.", "zh": "枫树，秋叶转红。"}, "card_gloss_en": "the maple above the river", "card_gloss_zh": "江岸上、秋天转红的枫", "char": "枫", "collocations": ["枫之", "枫林", "晓枫", "枫月"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["枫叶", "枫林", "霜枫"], "in_a_name": {"en": "枫 gives a name a place and a season rather than an object.", "zh": "「枫」给名字的是一个地点和季节，不是一件东西。"}, "pinyin": "fēng", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "招魂·招魂", "char_form_orig": "枫", "gloss_here": "「枫」在这里是江岸上那排树——它标的是位置：水边、高处、秋天会红。", "gloss_here_en": "The 枫 here is the row of trees above the water: it marks a place — by a river, above it, red by autumn.", "label_en": "The maple above the river", "label_zh": "江岸上的枫", "quote": "湛湛江水兮，上有枫。", "seq": 1275, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Deep, deep the river water; above it, maples."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The cassia — a fragrant tree of the hills.", "zh": "桂树；肉桂。"}, "card_gloss_en": "cassia", "card_gloss_zh": "桂树，桂枝", "char": "桂", "collocations": ["桂之", "桂芳", "月桂"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["桂树", "桂枝"], "in_a_name": {"en": "A tree on a hill.", "zh": "「桂」是山里的树。"}, "pinyin": "guì", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "招隐士·招隐士", "char_form_orig": "桂", "gloss_here": "《招隐士》写山中：攀着桂枝停下。桂在楚辞里是山里高洁的树，不是香料铺的桂皮。", "gloss_here_en": "In the Songs of Chu the cassia is a tree on a hill, not a spice on a shelf.", "label_en": "Holding on to the branch", "label_zh": "攀援桂枝", "quote": "攀援桂枝兮聊淹留。", "seq": 1456, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I grasp the cassia branch and linger a while."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The wutong tree — the one the phoenix is said to choose.", "zh": "梧桐。"}, "card_gloss_en": "wutong tree", "card_gloss_zh": "梧桐，栖凤之木", "char": "桐", "collocations": ["桐之", "桐华", "青桐"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["梧桐", "青桐"], "in_a_name": {"en": "The place kept for something rare.", "zh": "「桐」是给凤凰留的那个位置。"}, "pinyin": "tóng", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·生民之什·卷阿", "char_form_orig": "桐", "gloss_here": "《卷阿》写梧桐生在朝阳的一面。传说凤凰非梧桐不栖，所以「桐」在名字里自带一个位置。", "gloss_here_en": "The wutong grows on the sunlit slope. The phoenix is said to perch on no other tree.", "label_en": "Growing toward the light", "label_zh": "梧桐生矣", "quote": "梧桐生矣，于彼朝阳。", "seq": 2889, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The wutong grows — there, on the sunny slope."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The plum tree — the fruit tree first, the blossom after.", "zh": "梅树；梅花。"}, "card_gloss_en": "plum", "card_gloss_zh": "梅树，梅花", "char": "梅", "collocations": ["梅之", "雪梅", "春梅"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["梅树", "寒梅"], "in_a_name": {"en": "The tree before the blossom.", "zh": "「梅」先是树，才是花。"}, "pinyin": "méi", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·谷风之什·四月", "char_form_orig": "梅", "gloss_here": "《四月》把梅和栗并列，说它们都是山中的好树。名字取「梅」，先取的是树，不是花。", "gloss_here_en": "The plum stands beside the chestnut as a fine tree. A name takes the tree before the blossom.", "label_en": "A good tree among good trees", "label_zh": "侯栗侯梅", "quote": "山有嘉卉，侯栗侯梅。", "seq": 2110, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "On the hill are fine plants: the chestnut, and the plum."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Glad — of the moment when something arrives.", "zh": "喜悦。"}, "card_gloss_en": "glad", "card_gloss_zh": "喜悦，欢欣", "char": "欣", "collocations": ["欣之", "欣和", "欣欣"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["欢欣", "欣悦"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Gladness that comes out to meet you.", "zh": "「欣」是迎上来的欢喜。"}, "pinyin": "xīn", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九怀·尊嘉", "char_form_orig": "欣", "gloss_here": "《九怀》写河伯开门相迎。「欣」在名字里就是这个「迎上来」的欢喜——不是安静的高兴。", "gloss_here_en": "A gate opens and someone comes out to meet you. 欣 is that kind of gladness.", "label_en": "Meeting something good", "label_zh": "迎余兮欢欣", "quote": "河伯兮开门，迎余兮欢欣。", "seq": 1824, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The river god opens his gate and welcomes me with joy."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Upright — and to set upright.", "zh": "端正；改正；正名。"}, "card_gloss_en": "upright, correct", "card_gloss_zh": "端正，正名", "char": "正", "collocations": ["正之", "正明", "守正"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["正名", "中正"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Calling a thing by its right name, first.", "zh": "「正」是先把事情叫对。"}, "pinyin": "zhèng", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子路篇", "char_form_orig": "正", "gloss_here": "子路问为政先做什么，孔子答：先把名分正过来。名字里的「正」，这一层最实在——先把事情叫对。", "gloss_here_en": "Asked what comes first in government, Confucius says: get the names right.", "label_en": "Getting the names right", "label_zh": "必也正名", "quote": "必也正名乎！", "seq": 765, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "It would have to be the rectification of names."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The people — everyone who is not in office.", "zh": "百姓。"}, "card_gloss_en": "the people", "card_gloss_zh": "百姓，民众", "char": "民", "collocations": ["民之", "民安", "新民"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["民本", "庶民"], "in_a_name": {"en": "People who follow, not people who are managed.", "zh": "「民」是跟着走的人，不是被管的对象。"}, "pinyin": "mín", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "颜渊篇", "char_form_orig": "民", "gloss_here": "季康子问怎么让百姓敬、忠、劝，孔子答：你自己想好，百姓就好了。「民」在这里不是被管的对象，是跟着走的人。", "gloss_here_en": "The ruler's own wanting is what moves them. 民 is not the object of rule but the people who follow.", "label_en": "What the top does, the rest does", "label_zh": "子欲善而民善矣", "quote": "子欲善而民善矣。", "seq": 734, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "If you want what is good, the people will be good."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "A river running long; by extension anything lasting.", "zh": "水流长；引申为长久。"}, "card_gloss_en": "long, enduring", "card_gloss_zh": "长久，源远流长", "char": "永", "collocations": ["永和", "永言", "永嘉", "永宁"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["永思", "永久"], "in_a_name": {"en": "A long river first; \"lasting\" second.", "zh": "「永」本是水长，才引申为久。"}, "pinyin": "yǒng", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·周南·汉广", "char_form_orig": "永", "gloss_here": "「永」的本义是水长，不是抽象的「永远」。名字用「永」，最早取的就是这条江的长度。", "gloss_here_en": "The word means a long river before it means forever. A name takes the river's length.", "label_en": "Long like a river", "label_zh": "江之永矣", "quote": "江之永矣，不可方思。", "seq": 59, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The river is so long — you cannot reach the far bank."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "A great river; in classical usage usually the Yangtze.", "zh": "大河；特指长江。"}, "card_gloss_en": "great river", "card_gloss_zh": "江河，长江", "char": "江", "collocations": ["江之", "江月", "临江"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["大江", "江汉"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Scale at the level of landscape.", "zh": "「江」是骨架级别的尺度。"}, "pinyin": "jiāng", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·谷风之什·四月", "char_form_orig": "江", "gloss_here": "「纪」是纲纪、脉络。江汉不是两条水，是南方得以成形的骨架。名字用「江」，取的是这个尺度。", "gloss_here_en": "纪 is the cord that holds a thing together. The rivers are not scenery here; they are the structure of the south.", "label_en": "The rivers that order the south", "label_zh": "滔滔江汉", "quote": "滔滔江汉，南国之纪。", "seq": 2114, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Surging are the Jiang and the Han — the very web of the southern land."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "To wash the hair; by extension, to be washed over by something good.", "zh": "洗头；引申为被水或光润过一遍。"}, "card_gloss_en": "to be washed in something fragrant", "card_gloss_zh": "以香汤沐发，被好事物浸过", "char": "沐", "collocations": ["沐之", "沐晴", "沐阳", "沐云"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["如沐春风", "沐浴", "沐雨栉风"], "in_a_name": {"en": "In a name 沐 is not hygiene; it is being passed through something good and coming out scented.", "zh": "名字里的「沐」不是清洁，是被好东西浸过一遍。"}, "pinyin": "mù", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九歌·云中君", "char_form_orig": "沐", "gloss_here": "这里的「沐」是洗发，兰汤是香草煮的水——不是洗干净，是把自己浸在香气里。", "gloss_here_en": "This 沐 is washing the hair in water boiled with orchids: not cleaning, but taking the fragrance on.", "label_en": "Washed in something fragrant", "label_zh": "以香汤沐发", "quote": "浴兰汤兮沐芳，华采衣兮若英", "seq": 199, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Bathed in water boiled with orchids, hair washed in the fragrance; dressed in the colours of flowers."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "A marsh — and the benefit that pools like water.", "zh": "水聚之处；恩泽。"}, "card_gloss_en": "marsh; benefit", "card_gloss_zh": "恩泽，润泽", "char": "泽", "collocations": ["泽之", "泽民", "润泽"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["泽润", "恩泽"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Where water rests long enough to grow something.", "zh": "「泽」是水停下来的地方。"}, "pinyin": "zé", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·陈风·泽陂", "char_form_orig": "泽", "gloss_here": "「泽」是水停下来的地方，所以长得出蒲与荷。名字取的是「有水、有生机」。", "gloss_here_en": "Where water rests, things grow. A name takes the pool, not the flood.", "label_en": "Water standing still", "label_zh": "彼泽之陂", "quote": "彼泽之陂，有蒲与荷。", "seq": 1203, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "On the bank of that marsh grow the cattails and the lotus."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Clean — and the keeping of it.", "zh": "干净；清白。"}, "card_gloss_en": "clean, pure", "card_gloss_zh": "洁净，清白", "char": "洁", "collocations": ["洁之", "玉洁", "清洁"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["高洁", "清洁"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Still unspoiled.", "zh": "「洁」是一直没脏。"}, "pinyin": "jié", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "招魂·招魂", "char_form_orig": "洁", "gloss_here": "「廉洁」是同一层意思叠用：洁是干净，廉是不取。名字用「洁」，取的是这个「一直没脏」。", "gloss_here_en": "洁 is being clean; 廉 is not taking. Together: still unspoiled after everything.", "label_en": "Kept clean from the start", "label_zh": "清以廉洁", "quote": "朕幼清以廉洁兮，身服义而未沫。", "seq": 1124, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "From youth I was clean and incorruptible; I wore righteousness and it has not faded."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The sea — where all waters end up; by extension breadth, capacity, and distance.", "zh": "众水所归的大水域；引申为广大、容量、远方。"}, "card_gloss_en": "the sea", "card_gloss_zh": "大海，有容", "char": "海", "collocations": ["海川", "海宁", "海清", "海岳", "望海"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["海纳百川", "四海", "沧海"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Capacity rather than drama: everything can come in, and it does not become agitated.", "zh": "「海」给名字的是容量：什么都能进来，但自己不乱。"}, "pinyin": "hǎi", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "颜渊篇", "char_form_orig": "海", "gloss_here": "「四海」不是地理，是把范围放到最大的一种说法：做到了敬与恭，就没有「外人」。", "gloss_here_en": "The four seas are not geography but a way of saying \"everywhere\". Do it properly and there are no outsiders.", "label_en": "Breadth that includes people", "label_zh": "四海皆兄弟", "quote": "君子敬而无失，与人恭而有礼，四海之内皆兄弟也。", "seq": 696, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "If a gentleman is careful and does not slip, and treats others with courtesy, then within the four seas all men are his brothers."}, {"book": "孟子", "chapter": "離婁下", "char_form_orig": "海", "gloss_here": "水先把路上的坑洼注满再往前走，所以最后能到海。孟子用它讲「有本」——有源头的东西才走得远。", "gloss_here_en": "Water fills each hollow before it moves on, which is why it reaches the sea. Mencius uses it for having a source: only what is fed goes far.", "label_en": "Full because it has a source", "label_zh": "有本者不竭", "quote": "盈科而后进，放乎四海，有本者如是。", "seq": 1396, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "It fills every hollow before moving on, and reaches the four seas — that is what having a source looks like."}, {"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "大招·大招", "char_form_orig": "海", "gloss_here": "《大招》里的招魂辞，用「日照四海」形容名声之大。这一层比「辽阔」更具体：是被人知道。", "gloss_here_en": "From a summoning song: renown compared to the sun over the four seas. More concrete than \"vast\" — it means being known.", "label_en": "A name that carries", "label_zh": "名声远播", "quote": "名声若日，照四海只。", "seq": 1397, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A name like the sun, lighting the four seas."}], "tier": "A", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "To hold — water contained, and the patience that goes with it.", "zh": "包容；涵养。"}, "card_gloss_en": "to contain", "card_gloss_zh": "包容，涵养", "char": "涵", "collocations": ["涵之", "涵容", "清涵"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["涵养", "包涵"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Capacity to hold, before cultivation.", "zh": "「涵」先是装得下，才是修养。"}, "pinyin": "hán", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·节南山之什·巧言", "char_form_orig": "涵", "gloss_here": "毛传释「涵」为「容」——这是这个字最早的用法：不是「有修养」，是「装得下」。名字取的是这一层。", "gloss_here_en": "The old commentary glosses 涵 as \"to contain\". Not cultivation — capacity to hold.", "label_en": "The oldest sense: to contain", "label_zh": "僭始既涵", "quote": "乱之初生，僭始既涵。", "seq": 1981, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "When disorder first arose, the first encroachments were already being tolerated."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Good — in the old sense of a person worth choosing.", "zh": "美好；善良。"}, "card_gloss_en": "good and gentle", "card_gloss_zh": "美好，贤淑", "char": "淑", "collocations": ["淑之", "淑贞", "清淑"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["淑女", "贤淑"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Character rather than appearance.", "zh": "「淑」是品性，不是容貌。"}, "pinyin": "shū", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·周南·关雎", "char_form_orig": "淑", "gloss_here": "《关雎》开篇。「淑」是善，不是漂亮——「窈窕」说姿态，「淑」说品性。", "gloss_here_en": "窈窕 describes bearing; 淑 describes character. The compliment is not about looks.", "label_en": "The oldest compliment", "label_zh": "窈窕淑女", "quote": "窈窕淑女，君子好逑。", "seq": 2, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Deep and good is the girl; she is a gentleman's fit match."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Clear water — and then anything unmuddied: clean, lucid, distinct.", "zh": "水澄澈；引申为洁净、明白、清朗。"}, "card_gloss_en": "clear water", "card_gloss_zh": "清澈，透亮", "char": "清", "collocations": ["清和", "清越", "清川", "清远", "清言"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["清扬", "清泉", "清风"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Not coldness: transparency — you can see the bottom.", "zh": "「清」不是冷，是透亮——看得出底。"}, "pinyin": "qīng", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·郑风·野有蔓草", "char_form_orig": "清", "gloss_here": "「清扬」写的是眉目之间清秀舒展。汉语最早用「清」写人的样子，就是从这里开始的——清先是看得见的干净。", "gloss_here_en": "This is the earliest place Chinese uses 清 for a person's appearance: brows clear and open. The word starts as visible cleanliness.", "label_en": "A face you can read", "label_zh": "清扬", "quote": "有美一人，清扬婉兮。", "seq": 771, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "There is a beautiful person, clear-browed and graceful."}, {"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "渔父·渔父", "char_form_orig": "清", "gloss_here": "屈原的话，代价是被放逐。名字取这一层时，取的往往不是对抗，而是不肯同流的那点自持。", "gloss_here_en": "Qu Yuan's line, and the price was exile. In a name this is less about defiance than about not becoming what surrounds you.", "label_en": "Not the same as the crowd", "label_zh": "自守", "quote": "举世皆浊我独清，众人皆醉我独醒。", "seq": 977, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The whole world is muddy and I alone am clear; everyone is drunk and I alone am sober."}, {"book": "孟子", "chapter": "離婁上", "char_form_orig": "清", "gloss_here": "孟子引孔子的话：清水洗帽缨，浊水洗脚，别人怎么用你，取决于你是什么水。名字里的「清」，这一层最硬。", "gloss_here_en": "Clear water washes a hat-ribbon; muddy water washes feet. How others use you follows from what you are.", "label_en": "You decide which", "label_zh": "清浊自取", "quote": "清斯濯缨，浊斯濯足矣，自取之也。", "seq": 1248, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "If the water is clear, wash your hat-ribbon; if it is muddy, wash your feet — the water brings it on itself."}], "tier": "A", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Bright — and flourishing.", "zh": "光明；兴盛。"}, "card_gloss_en": "bright, flourishing", "card_gloss_zh": "光明，兴盛", "char": "熙", "collocations": ["熙之", "熙明", "德熙"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["缉熙", "熙光"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Light that keeps going.", "zh": "「熙」是持续的光，不是闪一下。"}, "pinyin": "xī", "senses": [{"book": "大学", "chapter": "", "char_form_orig": "熙", "gloss_here": "《大学》引《诗》说文王。「缉熙」是持续地光明，不是闪一下——名字用「熙」，取的是这个「不断」。", "gloss_here_en": "缉熙 is light that continues rather than flares. A name takes the continuance.", "label_en": "Light that keeps going", "label_zh": "缉熙敬止", "quote": "穆穆文王，于缉熙敬止。", "seq": 34, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Solemn was King Wen — ah, how he kept his light and rested in reverence."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "To love — defined in the Analects as a practice, not a feeling.", "zh": "爱；喜爱。"}, "card_gloss_en": "to love", "card_gloss_zh": "爱，仁爱", "char": "爱", "collocations": ["爱之", "爱华", "慈爱"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["仁爱", "爱人"], "in_a_name": {"en": "A verb, not an adjective.", "zh": "「爱」是动作，不是形容词。"}, "pinyin": "ài", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "颜渊篇", "char_form_orig": "爱", "gloss_here": "孔子把「仁」直接定义成「爱人」，两个字。名字用「爱」，分量就在这里——它不是形容词，是动作。", "gloss_here_en": "Humaneness, defined in two words. 爱 is a verb here, not an adjective.", "label_en": "The whole definition", "label_zh": "爱人", "quote": "樊迟问仁，子曰：爱人。", "seq": 749, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Fan Chi asked about humaneness. The Master said: it is to love people."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Fine jade — the stone that is valued for its grain, not its shine; by extension anything precious and well-made.", "zh": "温润而有光泽的美石；引申为美好、珍贵。"}, "card_gloss_en": "fine jade", "card_gloss_zh": "美玉，温润", "char": "玉", "collocations": ["玉成", "玉衡", "明玉", "玉书"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["美玉", "温润", "玉帛"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Texture, not ornament.", "zh": "「玉」是质地，不是装饰。"}, "pinyin": "yù", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子罕篇", "char_form_orig": "玉", "gloss_here": "子贡问孔子：美玉是收起来，还是待价而沽。玉本身没有疑问，疑问是要不要让人看见——名字用「玉」，取的是前一半。", "gloss_here_en": "The jade is never in question; what is in question is whether to show it. A name takes the stone, not the dilemma.", "label_en": "The question is not the jade", "label_zh": "美玉于斯", "quote": "有美玉于斯，韫椟而藏诸？", "seq": 482, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Here is a beautiful jade: put it in a box and keep it, or wait for a good buyer and sell it?"}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Treasure — and the act of valuing.", "zh": "珍宝；珍贵。"}, "card_gloss_en": "treasure, precious", "card_gloss_zh": "珍贵，珍宝", "char": "珍", "collocations": ["珍之", "珍玉", "世珍"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["珍宝", "珍重"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Rarity rather than price.", "zh": "「珍」强调稀，不是贵。"}, "pinyin": "zhēn", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九思·守志", "char_form_orig": "珍", "gloss_here": "「宝珍」是藏起来的珍物。「珍」和「宝」的区别在于：珍更强调「稀」，不是「贵」。", "gloss_here_en": "What is hidden away. 珍 leans on rarity rather than price.", "label_en": "What is kept hidden", "label_zh": "睹秘藏兮宝珍", "quote": "历九宫兮遍观，睹秘藏兮宝珍。", "seq": 2346, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I pass through the nine palaces and look everywhere; I see the hidden stores, the precious things."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "To cut and polish jade.", "zh": "雕琢玉石。"}, "card_gloss_en": "cut and polished into what it already was", "card_gloss_zh": "雕琢玉石，做成器物", "char": "琢", "collocations": ["琢之", "琢玉", "子琢", "琢然"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["琢磨", "雕琢", "切磋琢磨"], "in_a_name": {"en": "琢 is work: not what you were born as, but whether you are willing to cut.", "zh": "「琢」是功夫：不是天生怎样，是肯不肯下刀。"}, "pinyin": "zhuó", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·文王之什·棫朴", "char_form_orig": "琢", "gloss_here": "「琢」在这里是雕——外面做出纹样，里面本来就是金玉。名字用「琢」，取的是「把自己做出来」。", "gloss_here_en": "The 琢 here is carving: the pattern is cut on the outside, but the material inside was always gold and jade. A name takes that making.", "label_en": "Cutting out what was already there", "label_zh": "把里面的金玉做出来", "quote": "追琢其章，金玉其相。", "seq": 2624, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Cut and carved into pattern; its substance is gold and jade."}, {"book": "论语", "chapter": "学而篇", "char_form_orig": "琢", "gloss_here": "《诗经》原句被子贡引来问修身——「琢」是骨角玉石的加工，「磨」才是最后那道亮。两个字连用，是把功夫做到底。", "gloss_here_en": "Zi Gong quoted the line to ask about self-cultivation: 琢 is the carving, 磨 the final polish. Together they mean the work is carried all the way through.", "label_en": "Cut, then polished", "label_zh": "如琢如磨", "quote": "如切如磋，如琢如磨", "seq": 33, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "As if cut, as if filed; as if carved, as if polished."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Fine jade — heard before seen.", "zh": "美玉。"}, "card_gloss_en": "fine jade", "card_gloss_zh": "美玉，琳琅", "char": "琳", "collocations": ["琳之", "琳琅", "琼琳"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["琳琅", "美玉"], "in_a_name": {"en": "The stone, and the sound it makes.", "zh": "「琳」是玉，也是玉的声音。"}, "pinyin": "lín", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九歌·东皇太一", "char_form_orig": "琳", "gloss_here": "「琳琅」是玉相击的声音。名字用「琳」，取的是玉，也取这个「有声音」的质地。", "gloss_here_en": "琳琅 is the sound jades make against each other. A name takes both the stone and its ring.", "label_en": "Jade you hear", "label_zh": "璆锵鸣兮琳琅", "quote": "抚长剑兮玉珥，璆锵鸣兮琳琅。", "seq": 192, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I stroke the long sword with its jade guard; the pendants ring — a chiming of fine jades."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The qin — a quiet instrument, played indoors.", "zh": "古琴。"}, "card_gloss_en": "the qin", "card_gloss_zh": "古琴，琴瑟", "char": "琴", "collocations": ["琴之", "琴心", "听琴"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["琴瑟", "鸣琴"], "in_a_name": {"en": "A household, not a performance.", "zh": "「琴」是日子，不是技艺。"}, "pinyin": "qín", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·郑风·女曰鸡鸣", "char_form_orig": "琴", "gloss_here": "《女曰鸡鸣》写夫妻的清晨：琴瑟放在手边，日子安静。「琴」在名字里取的是这一层——不是技艺，是日子。", "gloss_here_en": "A couple's morning: the instruments within reach, the day quiet. A name takes the household, not the skill.", "label_en": "The sound of an ordinary day", "label_zh": "琴瑟在御", "quote": "琴瑟在御，莫不静好。", "seq": 707, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "With lute and zither at hand, all is quiet and good."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Fine jade — paired with 瑾 as the best of stones.", "zh": "美玉。与「瑾」并称，都是玉中的上品。"}, "card_gloss_en": "fine jade", "card_gloss_zh": "美玉，怀瑾握瑜", "char": "瑜", "collocations": ["瑾瑜", "清瑜", "瑜亮"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["瑾瑜", "美玉"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Texture rather than shine: what you are actually holding, not how it looks to others.", "zh": "「瑜」是质地，不是光——它说的是你手里有什么，不是别人怎么看。"}, "pinyin": "yú", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九章·怀沙", "char_form_orig": "瑜", "gloss_here": "瑾、瑜都是美玉。屈原这句写的是「怀里揣着好东西却无处可示」；名字取「瑜」，取的是玉本身，不是那个处境。", "gloss_here_en": "The line is about holding treasure with nowhere to show it. A name takes the jade, not the predicament.", "label_en": "Treasure you carry rather than display", "label_zh": "怀瑾握瑜", "quote": "怀瑾握瑜兮，穷不知所示。", "seq": 695, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I carry jade in my breast and hold it in my hand; in my poverty I do not know how to show it."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "An auspicious token — something given as a sign.", "zh": "祥瑞；吉兆。"}, "card_gloss_en": "auspicious token", "card_gloss_zh": "祥瑞，吉兆", "char": "瑞", "collocations": ["瑞之", "瑞雪", "呈瑞"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["祥瑞", "瑞应"], "in_a_name": {"en": "A sign that comes from outside you.", "zh": "「瑞」是外面显出来的兆。"}, "pinyin": "ruì", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九思·逢尤", "char_form_orig": "瑞", "gloss_here": "「瑞图」是上天给的凭据。「瑞」不是自己说的好，是外面显出来的兆。", "gloss_here_en": "A token from elsewhere: not self-declared good fortune, but a sign that shows.", "label_en": "A sign that is handed over", "label_zh": "受瑞图", "quote": "懿风后兮受瑞图。", "seq": 2179, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Praise to Feng Hou, who received the chart of good omen."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Fine jade.", "zh": "美玉。"}, "card_gloss_en": "fine jade", "card_gloss_zh": "美玉，瑾瑜", "char": "瑾", "collocations": ["怀瑾", "瑾之", "清瑾"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["瑾瑜", "美玉"], "in_a_name": {"en": "The jade that pairs with 瑜.", "zh": "「瑾」是和「瑜」成对的那块玉。"}, "pinyin": "jǐn", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九章·怀沙", "char_form_orig": "瑾", "gloss_here": "瑾与瑜并举，都是美玉。名字用「瑾」，和用「瑜」是同一层：取的是玉，不是屈原的处境。", "gloss_here_en": "瑾 and 瑜 are both fine jade. A name takes the stone, not Qu Yuan's predicament.", "label_en": "The other half of the pair", "label_zh": "怀瑾握瑜", "quote": "怀瑾握瑜兮，穷不知所示。", "seq": 695, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I carry jade in my breast and hold it in my hand; in my poverty I do not know how to show it."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "To grow, to come into being, to live.", "zh": "生长、生成、生命。"}, "card_gloss_en": "to grow, to live", "card_gloss_zh": "生长，生命力", "char": "生", "collocations": ["生之", "生华", "生明"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["生长", "生生"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Growth that arrives rather than being forced.", "zh": "「生」是时候到了自己长。"}, "pinyin": "shēng", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "学而篇", "char_form_orig": "生", "gloss_here": "孔子说：把根本立住，道自己就长出来了。「生」在这里不是被造出来，是时候到了自己长。", "gloss_here_en": "Set the root and the way grows of itself. 生 here is growth that happens, not something manufactured.", "label_en": "Grow from the root", "label_zh": "本立道生", "quote": "君子务本，本立而道生。", "seq": 5, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A gentleman works at the root; when the root is set, the way grows of itself."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "White, and bright with it.", "zh": "白而发亮。"}, "card_gloss_en": "white that catches light", "card_gloss_zh": "白而发亮", "char": "皓", "collocations": ["皓月", "皓然", "明皓", "皓轩"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["皓月", "皓齿", "皓首"], "in_a_name": {"en": "A name takes 皓 for the shine, not for paleness.", "zh": "名字取「皓」，取的是亮，不是白得没血色。"}, "pinyin": "hào", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "大招·大招", "char_form_orig": "皓", "gloss_here": "「皓」在这里是牙齿的白——不是苍白，是干净到发光的那种白。", "gloss_here_en": "The 皓 here is the whiteness of teeth: not pallor, but a clean white that gives back light.", "label_en": "White that catches light", "label_zh": "白得发亮", "quote": "朱唇皓齿，嫭以姱只。", "seq": 1344, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Red lips and white teeth — lovely, and finely made."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "To know, to understand. In classical use it also reads zhì, the same word as 智 (wisdom); a name takes the discerning side.", "zh": "知道、明白。古又读 zhì，通「智」；名字里的「知」多取明辨、有见识那一层。"}, "card_gloss_en": "to know, to discern", "card_gloss_zh": "知道，分得清", "char": "知", "collocations": ["知远", "知微", "知白", "知行"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["知者", "明辨", "见知"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Not cleverness: the ability to tell things apart.", "zh": "「知」在名字里不是「聪明」，是分得清。"}, "pinyin": "zhī", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "为政篇", "char_form_orig": "知", "gloss_here": "孔子给「知」下的定义：不是知道得多，是分得清自己知道什么、不知道什么。名字取「知」，最硬的一层就在这。", "gloss_here_en": "Confucius defines knowing as being able to tell what you know from what you don't. A name takes this as the firm ground of the word.", "label_en": "Knowing what you do not know", "label_zh": "知之为知之", "quote": "知之为知之，不知为不知，是知也。", "seq": 65, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "To know what you know, and to know what you do not know — that is knowledge."}, {"book": "论语", "chapter": "子罕篇", "char_form_orig": "知", "gloss_here": "《论语》里三达德并称的一句：智、仁、勇各解一种困境——「知」解的是迷惑。", "gloss_here_en": "The three classical virtues, each answering one difficulty: wisdom answers confusion.", "label_en": "Not confused", "label_zh": "知者不惑", "quote": "知者不惑，仁者不忧，勇者不惧。", "seq": 513, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The wise are not perplexed, the humane are not anxious, the brave are not afraid."}, {"book": "论语", "chapter": "雍也篇", "char_form_orig": "知", "gloss_here": "水是动的、变的、往低处走却不失其性——孔子把「知」比作水，山留给仁。这一层让「知」不只是聪明。", "gloss_here_en": "Water moves, changes, yields downward and keeps its nature. Confucius gives water to the wise and mountains to the humane.", "label_en": "Why the wise like water", "label_zh": "知者乐水", "quote": "知者乐水，仁者乐山。", "seq": 306, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The wise take pleasure in water; the humane take pleasure in mountains."}], "tier": "A", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Large and full — of a person's build or a crop; by extension ample, imposing, admirable.", "zh": "（形貌、果实）大而充实；引申为广大、壮美。"}, "card_gloss_en": "large and full", "card_gloss_zh": "硕大充实，气度宽厚", "char": "硕", "collocations": ["硕文", "硕远", "硕之", "鸿硕"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["硕果", "硕学", "硕人"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Scale with substance inside it — not a big reputation, a full one.", "zh": "「硕」是体量与充实：不是名声大，是里面有东西。"}, "pinyin": "shuò", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·卫风·硕人", "char_form_orig": "硕", "gloss_here": "《诗经·硕人》写卫庄公夫人庄姜。「硕人」不是「胖」，是身形高硕、气象大。名字用「硕」，取的就是这个。", "gloss_here_en": "This poem describes a duke's bride. 硕人 is not \"fat\" but tall and of large presence.", "label_en": "A person of scale", "label_zh": "硕人", "quote": "硕人其颀，衣锦褧衣。", "seq": 476, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The tall lady, wearing brocade over a plain gown."}, {"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·卫风·考槃", "char_form_orig": "硕", "gloss_here": "「考槃」写隐居。「硕人」与「宽」并举——宽是胸怀，不是地方；这一层的「硕」是气度。", "gloss_here_en": "A poem about withdrawal from office. 硕 pairs with 宽: the breadth here is in the man, not the place.", "label_en": "Room to be at ease", "label_zh": "硕人之宽", "quote": "考槃在涧，硕人之宽。", "seq": 470, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "He builds his hut by the stream; the great man is at his ease."}, {"book": "大学", "chapter": "", "char_form_orig": "碩", "gloss_here": "《大学》引谚语：人看不见自己孩子的毛病，也看不见自家苗长得壮。「硕」在这里是长得实。", "gloss_here_en": "A proverb quoted in the Great Learning: we cannot see our own child's faults, nor our own crop's strength.", "label_en": "What actually grows", "label_zh": "苗之硕", "quote": "人莫知其子之恶，莫知其苗之硕。", "seq": 44, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "No one knows the faults of his own son, nor how sturdy his own seedlings have grown."}], "tier": "A", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Ritual — the form that makes a thing real.", "zh": "礼制；礼节。"}, "card_gloss_en": "rites", "card_gloss_zh": "礼制，礼节", "char": "礼", "collocations": ["礼之", "守礼", "明礼"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["礼乐", "礼节"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Putting people back where they belong.", "zh": "「礼」是让人回到该在的位置。"}, "pinyin": "lǐ", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "颜渊篇", "char_form_orig": "礼", "gloss_here": "颜渊问仁，孔子给了八个字。礼在这里不是繁文缛节，是把人放回该在的位置。", "gloss_here_en": "Asked what humaneness is, Confucius gives eight characters. 礼 is not etiquette but putting a person back in place.", "label_en": "The whole of it", "label_zh": "克己复礼", "quote": "克己复礼为仁。", "seq": 678, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "To restrain oneself and return to the rites — that is humaneness."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "An auspicious sign.", "zh": "吉祥的征兆。"}, "card_gloss_en": "auspicious", "card_gloss_zh": "吉祥，祥瑞", "char": "祥", "collocations": ["祥之", "瑞祥", "吉祥"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["吉祥", "祥瑞"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Good signs that keep coming.", "zh": "「祥」是持续出现的好兆。"}, "pinyin": "xiáng", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "商颂·那之什·长发", "char_form_orig": "祥", "gloss_here": "《长发》追述商代先祖：深智而长久地显现祥瑞。「祥」不是一次好运，是持续显现的好兆。", "gloss_here_en": "Not one stroke of luck: good signs that keep appearing over a long run.", "label_en": "Signs that keep coming", "label_zh": "长发其祥", "quote": "浚哲维商，长发其祥。", "seq": 3647, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Deep and wise was Shang; its good omens went on and on."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Blessing — what settles on a person and steadies them.", "zh": "福气；福禄。"}, "card_gloss_en": "blessing", "card_gloss_zh": "福气，福禄", "char": "福", "collocations": ["福之", "福宁", "世福"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["福履", "百福"], "in_a_name": {"en": "What settles a person.", "zh": "「福」是让人安顿下来的那件事。"}, "pinyin": "fú", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·周南·樛木", "char_form_orig": "福", "gloss_here": "《樛木》是祝福的复沓：福履绥之、将之、成之——先安顿，再扶助，最后成全。「福」是这一串动作。", "gloss_here_en": "Three blessings in sequence: settled, supported, completed. 福 is the sequence, not a prize.", "label_en": "Blessing that steadies", "label_zh": "福履绥之", "quote": "乐只君子，福履绥之。", "seq": 26, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "How happy is the gentleman — blessing settles him."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Grain coming into ear — and from that, excellence.", "zh": "谷类抽穗开花；引申为优异、秀美。"}, "card_gloss_en": "coming into ear", "card_gloss_zh": "抽穗，引申为优异", "char": "秀", "collocations": ["秀实", "秀之", "英秀"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["秀出", "清秀"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Having grown to the point of fruiting.", "zh": "「秀」是长到了抽穗那一步。"}, "pinyin": "xiù", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·生民之什·生民", "char_form_orig": "秀", "gloss_here": "写庄稼的一生：发芽、抽穗、结实、成熟。「秀」最初不是「好看」，是长到了抽穗那一步。", "gloss_here_en": "Four stages of a crop. 秀 is not prettiness but the moment the grain comes into ear.", "label_en": "From sprout to ear", "label_zh": "实发实秀", "quote": "实发实秀，实坚实好。", "seq": 2761, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "It sprouts, it comes into ear, it hardens, it ripens well."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Autumn — harvest, and the turn toward cold.", "zh": "秋季；收成之时。"}, "card_gloss_en": "autumn", "card_gloss_zh": "秋天，清秋", "char": "秋", "collocations": ["秋之", "秋白", "素秋"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["秋日", "清秋"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Clear and high rather than melancholy.", "zh": "「秋」是清高，不是悲凉。"}, "pinyin": "qiū", "senses": [{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "劉禹錫《秋詞二首 一》", "char_form_orig": "秋", "gloss_here": "刘禹锡翻案：别人悲秋，他说秋天比春天好。名字用「秋」，取的是这一层——清、高、不悲。", "gloss_here_en": "Liu Yuxi reverses the convention: autumn beats spring. A name takes the clear, high version, not the sad one.", "label_en": "Arguing with the season", "label_zh": "秋日胜春朝", "quote": "自古逢秋悲寂寥，我言秋日胜春朝。", "seq": 9, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Since ancient times people grieve over autumn's emptiness; I say the autumn day beats a spring morning."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "To stand — and so to stand on one's own.", "zh": "站立；引申为立身、成事。"}, "card_gloss_en": "to stand; to establish", "card_gloss_zh": "立身，立得住", "char": "立", "collocations": ["立之", "立诚", "立言"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["立身", "独立"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Standing firm, not standing up.", "zh": "「立」是立得住，不是站着。"}, "pinyin": "lì", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "季氏篇", "char_form_orig": "立", "gloss_here": "孔子对儿子伯鱼说的：不学礼，站不住。「立」在这里不是站着，是立得住。", "gloss_here_en": "Said to his own son: without the rites you cannot stand. 立 is standing firm.", "label_en": "What lets you stand", "label_zh": "无以立", "quote": "不学礼，无以立。", "seq": 1068, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Without learning the rites, there is no standing."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Red — in classical usage often the lighter, brighter red.", "zh": "赤色；古代指浅红。"}, "card_gloss_en": "red", "card_gloss_zh": "红色，明亮喜庆", "char": "红", "collocations": ["红英", "红芳", "丹红"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["红采", "丹红"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Ceremonial brightness, not clamour.", "zh": "「红」是正色里的亮，不是热闹。"}, "pinyin": "hóng", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九怀·通路", "char_form_orig": "红", "gloss_here": "写衣饰的配色：红配翠。「红」在楚辞里是正色，喜庆、明亮，不是现代口语里的「红火」。", "gloss_here_en": "A description of dress: red against kingfisher green. In the Songs of Chu the colour is ceremonial brightness.", "label_en": "Red and kingfisher", "label_zh": "红采骍衣", "quote": "红采兮骍衣，翠缥兮为裳。", "seq": 1775, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Red banners and crimson robes; kingfisher-green for the lower garment."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Pure — without anything else in it.", "zh": "纯粹；不杂。"}, "card_gloss_en": "pure", "card_gloss_zh": "纯粹，不杂", "char": "纯", "collocations": ["纯之", "纯明", "文纯"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["纯粹", "纯一"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Unmixed, and unbroken.", "zh": "「纯」是一直不断。"}, "pinyin": "chún", "senses": [{"book": "中庸", "chapter": "", "char_form_orig": "純", "gloss_here": "《中庸》引《诗》说「文王之德之纯」，紧接着一句「纯亦不已」——纯不是没有杂质，是一直不断。", "gloss_here_en": "The line continues: pure, and never stopping. 纯 is not just unmixed; it does not lapse.", "label_en": "Undiluted", "label_zh": "文王之德之纯", "quote": "文王之德之纯！", "seq": 152, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "How pure was the virtue of King Wen!"}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Good — and beautiful in the older sense of both.", "zh": "美好；善。"}, "card_gloss_en": "beautiful; good", "card_gloss_zh": "美好，尽善尽美", "char": "美", "collocations": ["美之", "清美", "美玉"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["五美", "尽美"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Good first, pretty after.", "zh": "「美」先是好，才是好看。"}, "pinyin": "měi", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "里仁篇", "char_form_orig": "美", "gloss_here": "孔子说选住处要选有仁的地方。「美」在这里是「好」不是「好看」——汉语里这两个意思本来就是一个字。", "gloss_here_en": "Choosing where to live says something. 美 here is \"good\", not \"pretty\".", "label_en": "A good place to live", "label_zh": "里仁为美", "quote": "里仁为美。", "seq": 142, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "To dwell where humaneness is — that is good."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "To be equal to something — and to prevail over it.", "zh": "胜任；胜过。"}, "card_gloss_en": "to overcome", "card_gloss_zh": "胜过，胜任", "char": "胜", "collocations": ["胜之", "胜明", "永胜"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["胜任", "名胜"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Overcoming rather than winning.", "zh": "「胜」是克服，不是赢。"}, "pinyin": "shèng", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "子路篇", "char_form_orig": "胜", "gloss_here": "「胜残」是克服残暴，不是打败谁。名字用「胜」，这层的「胜」比「赢」沉。", "gloss_here_en": "Here 胜 is to overcome cruelty, not to defeat a rival. It is the heavier sense of the word.", "label_en": "Overcoming, not defeating", "label_zh": "胜残去杀", "quote": "善人为邦百年，亦可以胜残去杀矣。", "seq": 791, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "With good men in charge for a hundred years, cruelty could be overcome and killing done away with."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Good — of character before quality.", "zh": "好、善。"}, "card_gloss_en": "good, kind", "card_gloss_zh": "善良，温良", "char": "良", "collocations": ["良之", "良玉", "世良"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["温良", "善良"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Being good to people, not being good quality.", "zh": "「良」是待人厚道。"}, "pinyin": "liáng", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "学而篇", "char_form_orig": "良", "gloss_here": "子贡总结孔子：温、良、恭、俭、让。「良」排在第二，是待人厚道那一层，不是「质量好」。", "gloss_here_en": "The second of five qualities by which Confucius was received: good toward others, not \"good quality\".", "label_en": "One of five", "label_zh": "温良恭俭让", "quote": "夫子温、良、恭、俭、让以得之。", "seq": 19, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The Master gained it by being warm, good, respectful, temperate, and yielding."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "芙蓉 — the lotus.", "zh": "芙蓉，荷花。"}, "card_gloss_en": "the lotus, used as a canopy", "card_gloss_zh": "芙蓉，荷花", "char": "芙", "collocations": ["芙蓉", "芙蕖", "芙之", "晓芙"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["芙蓉", "芙蕖", "出水芙蓉"], "in_a_name": {"en": "芙 rarely stands alone; it is half of 芙蓉, and in a name the two characters make the flower together.", "zh": "「芙」单独用少见，它多半是「芙蓉」的一半——名字里两个字一起才成花。"}, "pinyin": "fú", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九怀·尊嘉", "char_form_orig": "芙", "gloss_here": "「芙蕖」就是荷花。这里拿荷叶当伞盖——「芙」在名字里是这朵花名字的前一半，多与「蓉」连用。", "gloss_here_en": "芙蕖 is the lotus; here its leaf is used as a canopy. In a name 芙 is the first half of the flower's name, usually paired with 蓉.", "label_en": "A lotus leaf for a canopy", "label_zh": "拿荷叶当伞盖", "quote": "抽蒲兮陈坐，援芙蕖兮为盖。", "seq": 1821, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Pulling rushes to spread a seat; taking a lotus leaf for a canopy."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Fragrance — the kind that stays.", "zh": "香气。"}, "card_gloss_en": "fragrance", "card_gloss_zh": "芬芳，清香", "char": "芬", "collocations": ["芬之", "芬华", "兰芬"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["芬芳", "清芬"], "in_a_name": {"en": "A scent that lasts.", "zh": "「芬」是留得住的气味。"}, "pinyin": "fēn", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "离骚·离骚", "char_form_orig": "芬", "gloss_here": "屈原写自己佩的香草。「芬」在这里是留得住的气味——名字取的是这个「久久不散」。", "gloss_here_en": "The scent has not faded. 芬 here is fragrance that lasts.", "label_en": "A scent that has not faded", "label_zh": "芬至今犹未沬", "quote": "芳菲菲而难亏兮，芬至今犹未沬。", "seq": 166, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The fragrance was rich and would not diminish; its scent has still not faded."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Fragrance — of plants, and then of conduct.", "zh": "花草的香气。"}, "card_gloss_en": "fragrance", "card_gloss_zh": "芳香，兰芳", "char": "芳", "collocations": ["芳之", "芳华", "清芳"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["兰芳", "遗芳"], "in_a_name": {"en": "A smell before a flower.", "zh": "「芳」先是气味，不是花。"}, "pinyin": "fāng", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "招魂·招魂", "char_form_orig": "芳", "gloss_here": "《招魂》陈设美物招魂：把兰的香气借来铺满屋子。「芳」在汉语里先是气味，不是花。", "gloss_here_en": "A room furnished with what is good: the orchid's scent borrowed to fill it. 芳 is a smell before a flower.", "label_en": "What a scent does to a room", "label_zh": "兰芳", "quote": "结撰至思，兰芳假些。", "seq": 1258, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Gathering the deepest thought, borrowing the fragrance of orchids."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "A flower — and then the finest part of anything, and so outstanding ability.", "zh": "花；引申为精华、才智出众。"}, "card_gloss_en": "flower; the finest part", "card_gloss_zh": "花，引申为才智出众", "char": "英", "collocations": ["英华", "英秀", "俊英", "英杰"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["英才", "英华"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Flower first, talent second.", "zh": "「英」先是花，才是才。"}, "pinyin": "yīng", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·郑风·有女同车", "char_form_orig": "英", "gloss_here": "「英」的本义就是花，这里直接写脸像花。后来「英才」的「英」，是从「花之精」引申出来的。", "gloss_here_en": "英 means flower first; \"outstanding talent\" is a later extension from \"the essence of the flower\".", "label_en": "The oldest use of the word", "label_zh": "颜如舜英", "quote": "有女同行，颜如舜英。", "seq": 714, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A girl rides along; her face is like a hibiscus flower."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Blossom — and from blossoming, flourishing and honour.", "zh": "花；引申为茂盛、荣耀。"}, "card_gloss_en": "blossom; flourishing", "card_gloss_zh": "花，引申为繁盛荣耀", "char": "荣", "collocations": ["荣光", "荣昌", "世荣", "荣之"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["春荣", "荣华"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Blossom first, honour after.", "zh": "「荣」先是花开，才是体面。"}, "pinyin": "róng", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九章·橘颂", "char_form_orig": "荣", "gloss_here": "屈原写橘树：绿叶白花。「荣」的本义是花；「荣耀」是后来从「开得盛」引申的。", "gloss_here_en": "Qu Yuan describes an orange tree in leaf and flower. Honour is a later sense, grown out of blooming.", "label_en": "The word before the honour", "label_zh": "绿叶素荣", "quote": "绿叶素荣，纷其可喜兮。", "seq": 793, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Green leaves and white blossoms, so abundant and so lovely."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Lotus — 芙蓉 is the old name for the flower.", "zh": "荷花的别称（芙蓉）。"}, "card_gloss_en": "lotus — the flower Qu Yuan wore", "card_gloss_zh": "荷花，芙蓉", "char": "蓉", "collocations": ["芙蓉", "蓉之", "晓蓉", "蓉月"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["芙蓉", "出水芙蓉"], "in_a_name": {"en": "蓉 is the flower worn, not the flower in a vase.", "zh": "「蓉」是花，而且是被穿戴在身上、不是插在瓶里的那种。"}, "pinyin": "róng", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "离骚·离骚", "char_form_orig": "蓉", "gloss_here": "「芙蓉」就是荷花。屈原拿荷叶做上衣、荷花做下裳——「蓉」在名字里是这一朵花，不是草字头的随便一个字。", "gloss_here_en": "芙蓉 is the lotus. Qu Yuan wears lily leaves as a jacket and lotus flowers as a skirt: in a name 蓉 is that flower, not just any character under the grass radical.", "label_en": "The lotus Qu Yuan wore", "label_zh": "屈原穿在身上的荷花", "quote": "制芰荷以为衣兮，集芙蓉以为裳。", "seq": 58, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I made garments of water-lily leaves, and gathered lotus flowers for my skirt."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "A wild vetch — an edible green you go out and pick.", "zh": "野豌豆一类的野菜。"}, "card_gloss_en": "wild vetch, gathered on the hill", "card_gloss_zh": "上山采的野菜，野生自长", "char": "薇", "collocations": ["采薇", "薇之", "晓薇", "薇宁"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["采薇", "薇草"], "in_a_name": {"en": "薇 is a wild green, not a cultivated bloom: it lends a name the air of having grown on its own.", "zh": "「薇」是野菜，不是名花——它给名字的是「自己长出来的」那口气。"}, "pinyin": "wēi", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·召南·草虫", "char_form_orig": "薇", "gloss_here": "「薇」在这里是上山去采的野菜——名字用「薇」，取的是这个「野地里自己长出来的」，不是园林里的花。", "gloss_here_en": "The 薇 here is a wild green you climb a hill to gather: in a name it is the thing that grows on its own, not the flower in a garden bed.", "label_en": "Gathered on the hill", "label_zh": "上山去采的野菜", "quote": "陟彼南山，言采其薇。", "seq": 100, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I climb that southern hill to pick the vetch."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Poetry — and in the classics, specifically the Book of Songs.", "zh": "诗歌；《诗经》。"}, "card_gloss_en": "poetry", "card_gloss_zh": "诗歌，诗经", "char": "诗", "collocations": ["诗之", "诗言", "清诗"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["诗书", "吟诗"], "in_a_name": {"en": "The thing that gives you something to say.", "zh": "「诗」是能开口说话的本事。"}, "pinyin": "shī", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "季氏篇", "char_form_orig": "诗", "gloss_here": "孔子对儿子伯鱼说的。当时的外交辞令要引《诗》，不学就开不了口——名字用「诗」，背后是这个分量。", "gloss_here_en": "In Confucius's day, public speech quoted the Songs. Without them you had no way to speak.", "label_en": "Why it had to be learned", "label_zh": "无以言", "quote": "不学诗，无以言。", "seq": 1064, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "If you do not study the Songs, you have nothing to speak with."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Precious — and ranked high.", "zh": "宝贵；尊贵。"}, "card_gloss_en": "precious", "card_gloss_zh": "宝贵，可贵", "char": "贵", "collocations": ["贵之", "贵和", "明贵"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["宝贵", "可贵"], "in_a_name": {"en": "What is actually worth most.", "zh": "「贵」说的是什么最值得。"}, "pinyin": "guì", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "学而篇", "char_form_orig": "贵", "gloss_here": "有子说：礼最可贵的地方是「和」。名字用「贵」，这一层说的是「什么最值得」。", "gloss_here_en": "The most valuable part of a rite is the harmony it produces — not the ceremony.", "label_en": "What is most valuable in a rite", "label_zh": "和为贵", "quote": "礼之用，和为贵。", "seq": 22, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "In the practice of ritual, harmony is what counts most."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "To cross over — a ridge, a limit.", "zh": "越过；超出。"}, "card_gloss_en": "to surpass", "card_gloss_zh": "越过，超出", "char": "超", "collocations": ["超然", "超之", "思超"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["超越", "超然"], "in_a_name": {"en": "A body crossing something, before an idea.", "zh": "「超」先是越过去这个动作。"}, "pinyin": "chāo", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "九思·伤时", "char_form_orig": "超", "gloss_here": "王逸写远行：越过五岭，看那些高峻的石头。「超」最先就是「越过去」这个动作。", "gloss_here_en": "The verb is physical before it is abstract: you cross the ridge.", "label_en": "Crossing the ridge", "label_zh": "超五岭兮嵯峨", "quote": "超五岭兮嵯峨，观浮石兮崔嵬。", "seq": 2299, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "I cross the towering Five Ridges; I look at the floating rocks, so steep."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "A curtained carriage; by extension, a high open gallery with a rail to lean on.", "zh": "有帷幕的车；引申为高敞、有栏杆的廊宇。"}, "card_gloss_en": "a high gallery you can lean out from", "card_gloss_zh": "高敞有栏杆的廊宇", "char": "轩", "collocations": ["轩之", "子轩", "轩宇", "轩然"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["轩窗", "轩昂", "气宇轩昂"], "in_a_name": {"en": "轩 gives a name height and openness: a place from which you can look out.", "zh": "「轩」给名字的是开阔和高——一种能往外看的位置。"}, "pinyin": "xuān", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "招魂·招魂", "char_form_orig": "轩", "gloss_here": "「轩」在这里是层层叠起的长廊——高、敞、有栏杆可以凭。名字取的是这个「站得高一点的位置」。", "gloss_here_en": "Here 轩 is a run of galleries stacked one above another: high, open, with a rail to lean out from.", "label_en": "A gallery stacked above a gallery", "label_zh": "层层高敞的长廊", "quote": "高堂邃宇，槛层轩些。", "seq": 1189, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "High halls and deep rooms, with balustraded galleries stacked one above another."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Radiance — light thrown off by something else.", "zh": "光辉；照耀。"}, "card_gloss_en": "radiance", "card_gloss_zh": "光辉，照耀", "char": "辉", "collocations": ["辉光", "文辉", "辉映"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["光辉", "清辉"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Light that reaches someone else.", "zh": "「辉」是照出去的光。"}, "pinyin": "huī", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·鸿雁之什·庭燎", "char_form_orig": "辉", "gloss_here": "天将亮未亮，院子里的火把还亮着。「辉」不是自己发光，是把光给出去——名字取的是这一层。", "gloss_here_en": "The torches shine while dawn is still coming. Radiance here is light given off, not light owned.", "label_en": "Light before sunrise", "label_zh": "庭燎有辉", "quote": "夜乡晨，庭燎有辉。", "seq": 1680, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The night turns toward morning; the courtyard torches still give light."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Far — in distance, and by extension in reach and in time.", "zh": "远；引申为辽阔、悠长。"}, "card_gloss_en": "far, far-reaching", "card_gloss_zh": "遥远，辽阔", "char": "遥", "collocations": ["知遥", "遥青", "遥岑"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["逍遥", "遥远", "辽阔"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Scale: stand further back, and you see the whole thing.", "zh": "「遥」给名字的是尺度：站得远一点，才看得完整。"}, "pinyin": "yáo", "senses": [{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "李白《望廬山瀑布水二首 二》", "char_form_orig": "遙", "gloss_here": "「遥看」是站在远处看，所以才看得见全貌——瀑布像挂着的白练。名字里的「遥」，这一层是距离带来的视野。", "gloss_here_en": "Only from a distance does the whole waterfall show. 遥 here is the wide view that distance buys.", "label_en": "Seeing from far off", "label_zh": "遥看", "quote": "日照香炉生紫烟，遥看瀑布挂前川。", "seq": 7, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Sunlight on Incense Burner Peak raises a purple mist; from far off the waterfall hangs before the river."}, {"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "劉禹錫《望洞庭》", "char_form_orig": "遙", "gloss_here": "刘禹锡把八百里洞庭看成一只银盘，君山是一枚青螺。「遥望」不是看不见，是看得见整体。", "gloss_here_en": "Liu Yuxi sees all of Dongting as a silver plate with one blue snail on it: far view, not dim view.", "label_en": "The far shore", "label_zh": "遥望", "quote": "遥望洞庭山水翠，白银盘里一青螺。", "seq": 8, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Gazing far across Dongting, the hills and water are green — a single blue snail on a silver plate."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Metal in general; gold in particular.", "zh": "金属的通称；黄金。"}, "card_gloss_en": "gold; metal", "card_gloss_zh": "金，贵重坚固", "char": "金", "collocations": ["金声", "金和", "铄金", "金玉"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["金玉", "金石"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Hard, and slow to change.", "zh": "「金」在名字里是质地坚硬、久不变。"}, "pinyin": "jīn", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·文王之什·棫朴", "char_form_orig": "金", "gloss_here": "「相」是质：外面有雕琢的纹，里面是金玉的底。名字用「金」，取的是贵重与坚固，不是财。", "gloss_here_en": "The pattern is outside; the substance is gold and jade. A name takes the substance, not the money.", "label_en": "What a thing is made of", "label_zh": "金玉其相", "quote": "追琢其章，金玉其相。", "seq": 2624, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Cut and polished is its pattern; gold and jade is its substance."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Words cut into a vessel — to praise someone, or to warn yourself.", "zh": "铸或刻在器物上的文字，用来称颂，也用来自警。"}, "card_gloss_en": "an inscription you see every day — self-warning before remembrance", "card_gloss_zh": "刻在日用器物上的自警之辞", "char": "铭", "collocations": ["铭之", "铭心", "嘉铭", "铭远"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["座右铭", "铭心", "铭记", "铭刻"], "in_a_name": {"en": "What 铭 gives a name is something that stays: not praise received, but a standard you see every day.", "zh": "「铭」给名字的是「记得住、也守得住」：不是被人夸，是自己每天看见。"}, "pinyin": "míng", "senses": [{"book": "大学", "chapter": "", "char_form_orig": "銘", "gloss_here": "「铭」在这里是刻在天天要用的东西上的字。汤把它刻在洗脸盆上，所以「铭」原意不是纪念，是自警。", "gloss_here_en": "Here 铭 is text cut into an object you use daily. Tang put it on his washbasin: the word means self-warning before it means memorial.", "label_en": "A warning you see every day", "label_zh": "刻在日用器物上的自警", "quote": "汤之盘铭曰：「茍日新，日日新，又日新。", "seq": 27, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "On his washbasin Tang had it cut: renew yourself each day — again, and again."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The sunny side — south of a hill, north of a river.", "zh": "山的南面、水的北面；太阳照到的一面。"}, "card_gloss_en": "sunny side", "card_gloss_zh": "向阳，阳光", "char": "阳", "collocations": ["阳之", "朝阳", "明阳"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["朝阳", "阳春"], "in_a_name": {"en": "The side that the sun reaches.", "zh": "「阳」是晒得到太阳的那一面。"}, "pinyin": "yáng", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·召南·殷其雷", "char_form_orig": "阳", "gloss_here": "「阳」不是抽象的阳气，是山朝南、晒得到太阳的那一面。名字取的是这个具体的方向。", "gloss_here_en": "Not abstract yang: the slope that faces the sun. A name takes the concrete side.", "label_en": "The side the sun reaches", "label_zh": "南山之阳", "quote": "殷其雷，在南山之阳。", "seq": 135, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The thunder rolls — there, on the sunny side of the southern hill."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Correct, refined — the register a thing is supposed to be in.", "zh": "正；合乎规范的；文雅。"}, "card_gloss_en": "refined, correct", "card_gloss_zh": "雅正，文雅", "char": "雅", "collocations": ["雅之", "文雅", "清雅"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["雅正", "清雅"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Being what it should be, on sight.", "zh": "「雅」是看起来就该这样。"}, "pinyin": "yǎ", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "大招·大招", "char_form_orig": "雅", "gloss_here": "「雅」在这里是仪容的端正，不是「高雅」的姿态。名字用「雅」，取的是这个「看起来就该这样」。", "gloss_here_en": "Here 雅 is the correctness of bearing, not airs. A name takes the fit, not the pose.", "label_en": "Bearing, not decoration", "label_zh": "容则秀雅", "quote": "容则秀雅，稚朱颜只。", "seq": 1350, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Her bearing is refined and elegant; her face still holds its young colour."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Rain — good when it comes at the right time.", "zh": "雨水。"}, "card_gloss_en": "rain", "card_gloss_zh": "雨水，时雨", "char": "雨", "collocations": ["雨之", "雨时", "春雨"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["春雨", "时雨"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Timing, not volume.", "zh": "「雨」好在及时，不在多。"}, "pinyin": "yǔ", "senses": [{"book": "全唐诗", "chapter": "杜甫《春夜喜雨》", "char_form_orig": "雨", "gloss_here": "杜甫把雨写成「知时节」的——不是下得多，是下得对。名字用「雨」，取的是这个「及时」。", "gloss_here_en": "The rain is praised for timing, not volume.", "label_en": "Rain that knows when", "label_zh": "好雨知时节", "quote": "好雨知时节，当春乃发生。", "seq": 12, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A good rain knows its season; it comes in spring, when things begin."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Snow.", "zh": "雪。"}, "card_gloss_en": "snow", "card_gloss_zh": "雪，洁白", "char": "雪", "collocations": ["雪之", "雪晴", "映雪"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["白雪", "飞雪"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Snow, without needing to mean something else.", "zh": "「雪」就是雪，不必是比喻。"}, "pinyin": "xuě", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·鹿鸣之什·采薇", "char_form_orig": "雪", "gloss_here": "戍卒归途上的雪。这里没有比喻，「雪」就是雪——名字用「雪」，最早取的就是这个白与冷。", "gloss_here_en": "No figure of speech here: snow is snow. A name takes the whiteness and the cold.", "label_en": "Snow coming down", "label_zh": "雨雪霏霏", "quote": "今我来思，雨雪霏霏。", "seq": 1480, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Now I return — and the snow is falling thick."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Thunder that arrives fast.", "zh": "疾雷。"}, "card_gloss_en": "thunder at full speed", "card_gloss_zh": "疾雷，来得极快", "char": "霆", "collocations": ["霆之", "雷霆", "子霆", "霆宇"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["雷霆", "霆威"], "in_a_name": {"en": "霆 is speed: not meant to frighten, but to arrive exactly when it is said to.", "zh": "「霆」是速度：不是吓人，是「说到就到」。"}, "pinyin": "tíng", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·南有嘉鱼之什·采芑", "char_form_orig": "霆", "gloss_here": "「霆」和「雷」并称：雷是那声巨响，霆是来得极快的那一道。名字用「霆」，取的是速度和威势。", "gloss_here_en": "霆 is paired with 雷: 雷 is the sound, 霆 the arrival. A name takes the speed and the force, not the noise.", "label_en": "Thunder at full speed", "label_zh": "来得极快的雷", "quote": "啴啴焞焞，如霆如雷。", "seq": 1634, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The chariots rumble and roll; like peal after peal of thunder."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The coloured clouds at dawn and dusk.", "zh": "早晚的云彩。"}, "card_gloss_en": "dawn clouds", "card_gloss_zh": "朝霞，云霞", "char": "霞", "collocations": ["霞之", "晓霞", "丹霞"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["朝霞", "云霞"], "in_a_name": {"en": "The earliest and cleanest light of the day.", "zh": "「霞」是一天里最早、最干净的光。"}, "pinyin": "xiá", "senses": [{"book": "楚辞", "chapter": "远游·远游", "char_form_orig": "霞", "gloss_here": "《远游》写服气：清晨最清的那口气，是朝霞。「霞」在名字里就是这一层——一天里最早、最干净的光。", "gloss_here_en": "A poem of breath and ascent: the cleanest air of the day is the dawn cloud.", "label_en": "The first air of morning", "label_zh": "含朝霞", "quote": "餐六气而饮沆瀣兮，漱正阳而含朝霞。", "seq": 892, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "Dining on the six essences and drinking the night mist; rinsing with the true yang and holding the dawn clouds."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Dew — what the night leaves on everything by morning.", "zh": "夜里凝在草木上的水气。"}, "card_gloss_en": "dew, and the season it names", "card_gloss_zh": "夜里的水气，清而短暂", "char": "露", "collocations": ["露之", "露华", "晓露", "露白"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["白露", "露水", "露华"], "in_a_name": {"en": "露 gives a name clarity and brevity: what is good does not have to last to count.", "zh": "「露」给名字的是清和短暂：好的东西不一定长久，这也是一种诚实。"}, "pinyin": "lù", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·秦风·蒹葭", "char_form_orig": "露", "gloss_here": "「白露」既是节气，也是《诗经》里最有名的一句——「露」在这里是夜里的水气，清、凉、留不住。", "gloss_here_en": "White dew is a solar term as well as the most quoted line in the Book of Songs: 露 is night moisture — clear, cold, and not meant to last.", "label_en": "Dew, and the season it names", "label_zh": "白露为霜", "quote": "蒹葭苍苍，白露为霜。", "seq": 1074, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The reeds are dense and grey; the white dew has turned to frost."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The colour between blue and green — what new growth looks like.", "zh": "蓝绿之间的颜色；草木初生之色。"}, "card_gloss_en": "blue-green", "card_gloss_zh": "青，草木初生", "char": "青", "collocations": ["青之", "青阳", "长青"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["青衿", "青山"], "in_a_name": {"en": "The colour where youth and learning meet.", "zh": "「青」是学问与青春叠在一起的颜色。"}, "pinyin": "qīng", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "国风·郑风·子衿", "char_form_orig": "青", "gloss_here": "「青衿」是学子的衣领。曹操《短歌行》引它求贤，后世「青衿」就成了读书人的代称。名字用「青」，取的是这个青春与学问叠在一起的颜色。", "gloss_here_en": "A student's collar. Cao Cao quoted it to call for talent, and 青衿 became a name for scholars.", "label_en": "The collar of a student", "label_zh": "青青子衿", "quote": "青青子衿，悠悠我心。", "seq": 751, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "How blue is your collar; how long my heart has been turning on you."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Still — and steady with it.", "zh": "安静；沉静。"}, "card_gloss_en": "still", "card_gloss_zh": "安静，沉静", "char": "静", "collocations": ["静之", "静姝", "清静"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["静好", "沉静"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Stillness with weight in it.", "zh": "「静」是有分量的静，不是没声音。"}, "pinyin": "jìng", "senses": [{"book": "论语", "chapter": "雍也篇", "char_form_orig": "静", "gloss_here": "孔子把「动」给了智者，把「静」给了仁者。名字用「静」，在《论语》里是有分量的那种静——不是没声音。", "gloss_here_en": "Confucius gives motion to the wise and stillness to the humane. This is weight, not absence of noise.", "label_en": "Stillness assigned to whom", "label_zh": "仁者静", "quote": "知者动，仁者静。", "seq": 307, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The wise are in motion; the humane are still."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "To fly — and so height, and ease of movement.", "zh": "鸟飞；引申为高远、轻捷。"}, "card_gloss_en": "to fly", "card_gloss_zh": "飞翔，高远", "char": "飞", "collocations": ["云飞", "飞之", "鸿飞"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["高飞", "奋飞"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Effortless rather than strained.", "zh": "「飞」是本来就会，不是拼命。"}, "pinyin": "fēi", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "鲁颂·駉之什·有駜", "char_form_orig": "飞", "gloss_here": "「振振」是群飞的样子，白鹭成群起飞。名字用「飞」，取的是这一层：不是奋力，是本来就会。", "gloss_here_en": "振振 is the look of a flock rising. A name takes effortlessness rather than strain.", "label_en": "A flock in flight", "label_zh": "鹭于飞", "quote": "振振鹭，鹭于飞。", "seq": 3512, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "A throng of egrets — egrets in flight."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "Fragrance — that rises and is received.", "zh": "香气。"}, "card_gloss_en": "fragrance", "card_gloss_zh": "香气，清香", "char": "香", "collocations": ["香之", "兰香", "清香"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["清香", "国香"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Something that rises and is received.", "zh": "「香」是能上达的东西。"}, "pinyin": "xiāng", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "大雅·生民之什·生民", "char_form_orig": "香", "gloss_here": "祭礼里，香气升上去，神接受它。「香」在名字里不是味道好，是「能上达」。", "gloss_here_en": "In a sacrifice the scent rises and is received. 香 is what travels upward.", "label_en": "What goes upward", "label_zh": "其香始升", "quote": "其香始升，上帝居歆。", "seq": 2773, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The fragrance begins to rise; the Lord on high enjoys it."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The wild goose — and, by extension, what is large and far.", "zh": "大雁；大。"}, "card_gloss_en": "wild goose; great", "card_gloss_zh": "鸿雁，宏大", "char": "鸿", "collocations": ["鸿之", "鸿飞", "鸿远"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["鸿雁", "鸿图"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Both large and far.", "zh": "「鸿」既是大的，也是远的。"}, "pinyin": "hóng", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "小雅·鸿雁之什·鸿雁", "char_form_orig": "鸿", "gloss_here": "「肃肃」是翅膀的声音。鸿雁按时迁徙，所以汉语里它既是大，也是远行与音信。", "gloss_here_en": "The sound of wings. Geese move on schedule, which is why the character carries both scale and distance.", "label_en": "Wings on the move", "label_zh": "鸿雁于飞", "quote": "鸿雁于飞，肃肃其羽。", "seq": 1664, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The wild geese fly — a hush of wings."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}
{"benyi": {"cite": null, "en": "The dragon — a mythic animal of weather and change, and so of rank and power.", "zh": "传说中的神兽；引申为尊贵、变化。"}, "card_gloss_en": "dragon", "card_gloss_zh": "龙，尊贵变化", "char": "龙", "collocations": ["云龙", "龙章", "龙渊"], "confusable": null, "etymology": {}, "imagery": ["龙旗", "云龙"], "in_a_name": {"en": "Presence rather than pressure.", "zh": "「龙」在名字里是气象，不是威压。"}, "pinyin": "lóng", "senses": [{"book": "诗经", "chapter": "周颂·臣工之什·载见", "char_form_orig": "龙", "gloss_here": "诸侯朝见周王的仪仗：龙旗在前，銮铃相和。「龙」在这里是旗上的纹样，也是身份的标记。", "gloss_here_en": "A lord's procession before the Zhou king: dragon banners ahead, bells answering. Here the dragon marks rank.", "label_en": "On the banner", "label_zh": "龙旗阳阳", "quote": "龙旗阳阳，和铃央央。", "seq": 3416, "source_level": "corpus", "translation_attrib": "our translation", "translation_en": "The dragon banners shine; the bells ring in harmony."}], "tier": "B", "verified_at": "2026-10-25"}