鎮

press

鎮 is composed of 金 (metal) and 真 (genuine). 真 is a pictograph of a hand pressing down on a tripod cauldron, originally meaning to subdue or suppress. As 真 later developed other meanings and metal is heavy in weight, 鎮 was created to specifically denote the idea of subduing or pressing down.

Vocabulary of 鎮

  • 鎮定 (calm)
  • 鎮痛 (pain killer)
  • 紙鎮 (paperweight)

Related Characters: