Writing Balance Rule: The left side (辰) is narrower, while the right side (阜/阝) is wider and taller, anchoring the entire character.
1. Meaning
lip
lip-like edge or rim (as in geography or objects)
NounNeutral#anatomy#body parts
Sample Usage
嘴唇
zuǐ chún
lips
唇膏
chún gāo
lip balm / lipstick
2. Sound
/[t͡ʂʰun³⁵]/Tone: 35
唇
chúnchun2
|
++
´(35)
=chún
Build the syllable
Step-by-step blending
chun
Tone mark placement: Tone mark sits on "u" per main-vowel priority (a > e > o; in -iu/-ui the mark takes the second vowel).
Initial Consonant
ch
Type: Aspirated Retroflex
Sounds like: ch sound with a retroflex tongue curl
AspiratedRetroflex
Airflow Tactile Test: Both curled tongue AND explosive puff of air! Tissue MUST fly.
Tongue & Mouth Position: Tongue tip curled back near hard palate, releasing a strong puff of air
Final Rhyme
un
Vowel Group: -u vowel group
Sounds like: un rhymes with hoon/poon
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'wuhn'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T2 (35)
3 → 5 (35)
2nd Tone (Mid-Rising)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 2 starts mid and rises sharply to the top, exactly like asking a surprised question in English such as 'What?!'
👂
Listening trap: Mistaking the retroflex initial 'ch-' for an alveolar 'c-' or English 'ch' without the retroflex tongue curl.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: A rising hand gesture from mid-chest up to eye level, mirroring the upward pitch of Tone 2.
3. Writing
Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 10 strokes
Writing Balance Rule: The left side (辰) is narrower, while the right side (阜/阝) is wider and taller, anchoring the entire character.
4. Components
Radical口 · Mouth Radical (mouth, opening)
Semantic Clue (形旁):口 (indicates that this body part is located around or part of the mouth)
Phonetic Clue (声旁):辰 (original sound: chén)
The character combines the phonetic component 辰 (chén) with the mouth-related nuance, pointing directly to the fleshy borders framing the mouth.
辰 provides the sound and part of the structure
卩 component part of 辰 representing a kneeling figure or structure
Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
11· Phonetic Root: 辰 (chén)
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)
Origin: Originally, lips were indicated by pointing to the mouth area; later, characters like 辰 were added to phoneticize and refine the specific anatomical term for lips.
Semantic Evolution: From the physical lips of humans and animals to metaphorical uses such as the edges of objects or geographical features.
Often paired with 嘴 (zuǐ) in modern Chinese to form 嘴唇 (zuǐchún).
6. Sinosphere
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: シュン / Kun: くちびる
🇰🇷
Hanja (Korean)
순
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story
Imagine your lips (唇) moving when you speak as the clock strikes the morning dragon hour (辰) near your mouth (口).
Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
辰
chén5th earthly branch: 7-9 a.m., 3rd solar month (5th April-4th May), year of the Dragon; ancient Chinese compass point: 120°Phonetic Core (声旁)