カン, はん

Sino-, China

JLPT4 G3 S13 F1487

The relevant oracle bone form of ?shows the stretched hide of an animal tied to a frame + fire → stretch an object for drying over a fire. According to this process the object shrinks, leaving a minute remainder. is as per ?# (stretch) + water → great, stretching river → the Milky Way (← constellation likened to a great, flowing river). The meaning *China* comes from a broad application of 's use in the name of the Hanshui River () in Hubei Province. Also, *man* (← ordinary male ← general populace ← general term for China).

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