Taxonomy of meanings for 援:　　

  • 援 yuán (OC: ɢʷan MC: ɦʷiɐn) 雨元切 平 廣韻：【援引也又爲眷切 】
    • TAKE
      • vtoNpull towards one (an object not larger than oneself); pick up; take control of
      • vt(oN)figurativeto hold back (a contextually determinate object);
  • 援 yuàn (OC: ɢʷans MC: ɦʷɯiɛn) 王眷切 去 廣韻：【接援救助也亦姓 】
    • HELP
      • nabactgenerous help and support
      • vadNsupporting; supportive
      • viactseek help (abroad)
      • vtoNoffer generous help; get generous help from
      • vt(oN)help the contextually determinate N
      • v[adN]helper; supporting force

    Additional information about 援

    說文解字: 【援】，引也。从手、爰聲。 【雨元切】

      Criteria
    • LADDER

      1. Current general word for a ladder is tī 梯, and it refers to the movable construction made ussually of wood which can be used to climb a wall, floor etc. The term is often used for the ladders used to attack city walls.

      2. Gōu yuán 鉤援 refers in SHIJING probably to a ladder with hooks to climb city walls. (According to some scholars, the term refers to the crooked and straight weapons, but it seems less probable in a context in which the words are found.)

    • HELP

      1. The most general current word for helping someone else to perform a task is probably zhù 助 (ant. zǔ 阻 "hinder") which can refer to support given to men or other creatures.

      2. Yuán 援 typically refers to spontaneous unsolicited and enthusiastic help.

      3. Zuǒ 佐, yòu 佑 (deriving their meaning from the position of aides near the ruler), and also fǔ 輔 refer to official assistance in a formal context.

      4. Fú 扶 is specifially help to those much in need of support.

      5. Yì 益 (ant. sǔn 損 "act to hinder someone's progress") refers to support for someone who is already fairly well equipped for the task he or she gets support for.

      6. Jiǎ 假 refers to - not necessarily overt - discreet support.

      7. Zī 資 refers primarily to providing material support, but the word came to have common wider, generalised applications.

      8. Jì 濟 refers to acute help for a current difficult task.

      9. Yòu 祐 is a very ancient word referring specifically to assistance afforded by supernatural forces.

      Word relations
    • Object: (TAKE)琴/STRING INSTRUMENTS The most current musical instrument in ancient China is the qín 琴﹣lute which generally had seven strings. This instrument is played with both hands. With one's left hand one holds down the strings while one plucks with one's right hand.
    • Object: (TAKE)戈/LANCE