铰链
jiǎo​liàn

hinge

铰 jiǎo hinge Simplified

Objects with a metal 钅 joint 交; 交 also provides the pronunciation

Components

钅
钅 Meaning component
jīn metal
交
交 SoundMeaning component
jiāo to cross, to mix

Sources

Readings & variants
Unicode

链 liàn chain Simplified

Metal 钅 that joins 连; 连 also provides the pronunciation

Components

钅
钅 Meaning component
jīn metal
连
连 SoundMeaning component
lián connect, join, link

Sources

Readings & variants
Unicode

鉸 hinge Traditional

Objects with a metal 釒 joint 交; 交 also provides the pronunciation

Components

釒
釒 Meaning component
jīn metal
交
交 SoundMeaning component
jiāo to cross, to mix

Historical Pronunciations

Middle ChineseOld ChineseGloss
Baxter-SagartkæwXmə-[k]ˤr[a]wʔshear; scissors
Zhengzhangkreːw
kreːwʔ
kreːws

Sources

Readings & variants
Unicode
Historical pronunciations
Baxter-SagartZhengzhang Shangfang

鏈 liàn chain Traditional

Metal 釒 that joins 連; 連 also provides the pronunciation

Components

釒
釒 Meaning component
jīn metal
連
連 SoundMeaning component
lián connect, join, link

Character Evolution

Seal form
Seal Shuowen ~100 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Western Han 202 BC-9 AD
Regular Modern

Historical Pronunciations

Old Chinese
Zhengzhangren
rens
r̥ʰen

說文解字

銅屬。从金連聲。

Sources

Readings & variants
Unicode
Historical pronunciations
Zhengzhang Shangfang
Historical images
Academia Sinica
Etymology
Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字)