句
Character Story & Explanation
Historically, 句 appears in early texts like the Shuōwén Jiězì (121 CE), where Xu Shen defines it as ‘a complete utterance with beginning and end’ (‘言之成文者’). It’s central in classical commentary traditions — scholars parsed classics by ‘breaking into sentences’ (分句) to clarify meaning. Today, it’s ubiquitous: students mark ‘sentence boundaries’ in textbooks, editors correct ‘run-on sentences’ (句子太长), and standardized tests (like HSK 3) assess sentence comprehension.
The character’s form evolved from an ancient pictograph depicting a bent line (勹) representing enclosure or curvature, combined with 口 (mouth). The earliest seal script shows 勹 + 口 — symbolizing speech enclosed within a meaningful contour. No oracle bone form survives definitively, but bronze inscriptions confirm its use by the Warring States period for ‘utterance’ or ‘clause’.
The character 句 (jù) embodies a foundational concept in Chinese linguistic thought: language as structured, bounded expression. Unlike Western notions that often prioritize the word or clause, 句 centers on the complete, self-contained utterance — a unit of meaning that breathes, pauses, and concludes. This reflects the classical Chinese emphasis on rhythm, balance, and semantic closure, where a sentence is not merely grammatical but also poetic and rhetorical.
In traditional Chinese education, mastering 句 meant mastering coherence and intent — whether in Confucian Analects quotations, Tang dynasty poetry couplets, or imperial edicts. Each 句 was expected to stand with dignity and clarity, mirroring the ideal of cultivated speech: concise, purposeful, and socially resonant. The mouth radical (口) underscores that this is not abstract logic, but spoken, embodied communication — words meant to be uttered and heard.
This worldview sees language not as a neutral tool but as a moral and aesthetic act. A well-formed 句 carries weight, authority, and harmony — echoing Daoist principles of natural flow and Confucian ideals of proper conduct through speech. Even today, Chinese learners are taught to ‘read sentences aloud’ (读句), reinforcing that meaning lives in vocalized rhythm, not silent syntax. Thus, 句 is less about grammar rules and more about the ethical resonance of a completed thought.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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