艾

Derived characters

• 哎 餀 鴱

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 1017, character 9
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 30648
• Dae Jaweon: page 1475, character 14
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 5, page 3172, character 9
• Unihan data for U+827E

Pronunciation

Definitions

艾

1. mugwort, especially Chinese mugwort (Artemisia argyi)

   • 彼采艾兮。一日不見、如三歲兮。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     彼采艾兮。一日不见、如三岁兮。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Bǐ cǎi ài xī. Yīrì bùjiàn, rú sānsuì xī. [Pinyin]

     There that one is gathering the mugwort! A day without seeing that one, is like three years!

2. (obsolete) green
3. (literary) pale; greyish white

   • 五十曰艾，服官政。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

     From: The Book of Rites, c. 4^th – 2^nd century BCE

     Wǔshí yuē ài, fú guānzhèng. [Pinyin]

     When he is fifty, we say, 'He is getting grey;' he can discharge all the duties of an officer.

4. (literary) elderly person

   • 凡童少鑒淺而志盛，長艾識堅而氣衰。 [MSC, trad.]
     凡童少鉴浅而志盛，长艾识坚而气衰。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 6th century Liu Xie 劉勰, 《文心雕龍》The Mind of Literature and Carved Dragons

     Fán tóngshào jiàn qiǎn ér zhì shèng, cháng'ài shí jiān ér qì shuāi. [Pinyin]

     Ordinarily, the youths are shallow-minded yet strong-willed; the elderly are firm in wisdom and dwindling in spirit.

5. (literary) to end; to stop

   方興未艾／方兴未艾  ―  fāngxīnɡwèi'ài  ―  to be in the ascendant

   • 夜如何其、夜未艾。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Yè rúhé jī, yè wèi ài. [Pinyin]

     How goes the night? The night has not yet ended.

6. (literary) beautiful lady

   • 知好色，則慕少艾； [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     知好色，则慕少艾； [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

     zhī hǎosè, zé mù shào'ài; [Pinyin]

     When he becomes conscious of the attractions of beauty, his desire is towards young and beautiful women.

7. (obsolete) to nurture; to foster

   • 樂只君子、保艾爾後。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     乐只君子、保艾尔后。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Yuè zhǐ jūnzǐ, bǎo'ài ěr hòu. [Pinyin]

     To be rejoiced in are ye, gentlemen; May ye preserve and maintain your posterity!

   • 君子萬年、福祿艾之。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     君子万年、福禄艾之。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Jūnzǐ wànnián, fúlù ài zhī. [Pinyin]

     May our sovereign live for ten thousand years, sustained in his happiness and wealth!

8. (historical) an ancient place in modern-day Xiushui County, Jiangxi
9. (historical) a mountain in modern-day Xintai, Shandong
10. a surname

Compounds

Pronunciation

Definitions

艾

1. Only used in 艾滋病 (àizībìng).

Pronunciation

Definitions

艾

1. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) Alternative form of 刈 (yì, “to mow; to harvest; to chop; to exterminate; sickle”)

   • 命我眾人、庤乃錢鎛、奄觀銍艾。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     命我众人、庤乃钱镈、奄观铚艾。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Mìng wǒ zhòngrén, zhì nǎi jiǎn bó, yǎn guān zhì ài. [Pinyin]

     Order all our men, to be provided with their spuds and hoes; anon we shall see the sickles at mowing.

2. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) Alternative form of 乂 (“to govern; to control; to pacify; to admonish”)

   • 孟子曰：「君子之所以教者五：有如時雨化之者，有成德者，有達財者，有答問者，有私淑艾者。此五者，君子之所以教也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     孟子曰：「君子之所以教者五：有如时雨化之者，有成德者，有达财者，有答问者，有私淑艾者。此五者，君子之所以教也。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

     Mèngzǐ yuē: “Jūnzǐ zhī suǒ yǐ jiào zhě wǔ: yǒu rú shíyǔ huà zhī zhě, yǒu chéng dé zhě, yǒu dá cái zhě, yǒu dá wèn zhě, yǒu sī shū yì zhě. Cǐ wǔ zhě, jūnzǐ zhī suǒyǐ jiào yě.” [Pinyin]

     Mencius said, 'There are five ways in which the superior man effects his teaching. There are some on whom his influence descends like seasonable rain. There are some whose virtue he perfects, and some of whose talents he assists the development. There are some whose inquiries he answers. There are some who privately cultivate and correct themselves. These five ways are the methods in which the superior man effects his teaching.'

Compounds