月
1. Moon
- 月亮 (yuè liàng) Moon Literal. Moon bright
- 月球 (yuè qíu) Moon (planet) Literal. Moon ball
- 镜花水月 (jìng huā shuǐ yuè) Idealism Literal. Flowers seen from the mirror; moon seen from the lake
2. Month
- 一月 (yī yuè) January
- 二月 (èr yuè) February
- 上个月 (shàng gè yuè) Last month
- 下个月 (xià gè yuè) Next month
- 满月 (mǎn yuè) Baby's first month Full month – a celebration is usually called for although practices vary in different countries, similar to baby shower
- 月薪 (yuè xīn) Salary *Literal. Monthly pay *
- 月经 (yuè jīng Period / Menstruation) *Literal. Monthly passings *
Few characters with 月 Moon Radical are associated with the moon
- 朝 (zhāo) Day Symbolic. Day and night
- 期 (qī) Phrase / Term Symbolic. That month(s)
Most compound characters with 月 Flesh Radical are body-related and actually derived from Flesh (肉)
- 脸 (liǎn) Face
- 脑 (nǎo) Brain
- 脖 (bó) Neck
- 肩 (jiān) Shoulder
- 胳膊 (gē bo) Arm
- 胸 (xiōng) Chest / Breasts
- 肚子 (dù zi) Stomach
- 腰 (yāo) Waist
- 臀 (tún) Bum
- 腿 (tǔi) Leg
- 脚 (jiǎo) Foot
- 脉 (mài) Arteries and veins
- 肝肠 (gān cháng) Liver and intestines
+ A LITTLE MORE +
月下老人 (yuè xià lǎo rén) Old Man Under the Moon or 月老 (yuè lǎo) for short – In Chinese folklore, he is believed to be a mythical match-maker, in charge of tying invisible red strings to men and women who are meant to be together. As his birthday coincides withMid-Autumn Festival (中秋节), singles or parents of singles tend to head for temples on the Fifteenth day of the Eight month (lunar phase) to pay respect and pray for love.
月兔 (yuè tù) Moon Rabbit (sometimes referred to as 玉兔 (yù tù) Jade Rabbit) is yet another mythology based on pareidolia that identifies patterns of the moon that resemble a rabbit – stories vary across China, Japan, Korean and India.
+ PERSONAL NOTE +
Chinese have a great fondness for the moon. Perhaps for the fact that it is the most ever-changing yet constant thing in life, or, simply because the great writers made it so poetic.
"Quiet Night Thought"[1] by Li Bai [2] is usually the first poem being taught at school and probably the most famous quatrain in Chinese poetry. At a later stage in life, _"Prelude to Water Melody – When will there be a Bright Moon?"[3] by Su Shi [4] will be introduced, sometimes in the form of a sentimental ballad.
By the time a person reaches middle age, especially situated far away from home, it is only natural to look up at the night sky for that brightest light. Whenever a full moon is in sight, every verse would instantly becomes apparent.
- [1] [1]《静夜思》
- [2] [2] 李白
- [3]《水调歌头·明月几时有》
- [4] 苏轼
P.S. 月 Moon Radical / 月 Flesh Radical