Taxonomy of meanings for 閒 / 間:　　

  • BETWEEN
    • npost-.N1+N2= 間; between N1 and N2LZ
    • npost-npro(= jian1 間) between, e.g. 是間 "between these"LZ
    • jia4n: abstract:AMONG
      • npost-Nthe place among CH
    • jia1n: between surfaces>INSIDE
      • npost-.N+ZHI= jian1 間: in, within, inside of NLZ
      • hidden>SECRET
        • vadNsecret
        • vadVsecretly; informally
        • action>ESPIONAGE
          • vtoNobject=spymasteract as spy for
          • vtoNobject=enemyspy on
          • viactact as a spy
          • vtoNab{S}ascertain by espionage that S
      • empty space>PLACE
        • npost-:N1+N2.+ZHIread jiān: within the space N1 and N2DS
      • between events>TIME
    • jia4n: empty: rift>HOLE
      • jiānLEISURE
        • vadVat leisure (=閑）CH
        • vadVread xian2: at leisure (=閑）CH
        • vibe leisurely and unconerned with the vulgar affairs of this worldCH
      • xiánLEISURE
        • vadVat leisure (=閑）CH
        • vadVread xian2: at leisure (=閑）CH
        • vibe leisurely and unconerned with the vulgar affairs of this worldCH
      • xiánTEACH
        • vtoNab= xián 閑: teach Nab-ingLZ

      Additional information about 閒

      說文解字:

        Criteria
      • WORK

        1. The current general term for work is gōng 工 (ant. xiū 休 "rest"), but the word refers specifically to skilled work.

        2. Shì 事 (ant. xián 閒 "be at leisure") refers primarily to an official or regular working effort made on behalf of and in the service of an employer or a ruler.

        3. Zuò 作 (ant. xí 息 "take a rest from work") refers to manual work.

        4. Chǎn 產 refers to the pursuance of a traditional family trade.

        5. Yè 業 refers to the pursuance of one's own professional career or one's career as a skilled artisan, farmer etc..

        6. Wù 務 refers to work imposed on one because of one's public employment.

        7. Shēng 生 can occasionally come to refer to something like one's daily work.

        8. Zhì 治 is mostly used verbally and refers to putting a coherent organised effort into something or work at something.

        9. Gān 干 is only used verbally and refers to the concerted effort or working towards an end.

      • LEISURE

        1. The current general term for the period of time not occupied by working is xián 閒 (ant. QIMIN YAOSHU 忙 "busy").

        2. Xiá 暇 refers specifically to the time of leisure between working spells.

        3. Jià 假 refers to an extended period free from official obligations, a holiday, and the word is marginal in this group.

        4. Yóu 游 / 遊 refers to the leisure-activities during one's free time.

        5. Kòng 空 refers abstractly to unoccupied time as such.

        6. Xián 嫻 / 閑 refers specifically to the kind of free and easy attitude one has during one's free time, but also to the work-free nature of something, and the word is often used as an adjective.

        7. Yàn 燕 and yàn 宴 refers to leisure time with a special focus on this time as an occasion for pleasure and enjoyment, often including food and music.

      • ACT

        [AD-HOC/SYSTEMATIC]

        [AIMLESS/PURPOSEFUL]

        [ARTIFICIAL/NATURAL]

        [BASE/NOBLE]

        [BASIC/MARGINAL]

        [COMMENDATORY/DEROGATORY]

        [CONATIVE/PERFECTIVE]

        [DELIBERATE/INVOLUNTARY]

        [GENERAL/SPECIFIC]

        [HABITUAL/OCCASIONAL]

        [HUMBLE/NOBLE]

        [PHYSICAL/MENTAL]

        [PRESCRIBED/SPONTANEOUS]

        [PRIVATE/PUBLIC]

        [RESPONSIBLE/UNACCOUNTABLE]

        1. The current general word for any deliberate behaviour one may be held morally and/or administratively responsible for is xíng 行 (ant. zhǐ 止 "decide not to take action"), and this conduct is typically one engaged in on someone else's behalf.

        [COMMENDATORY!], [GENERAL], [HABITUAL], [PHYSICAL], [RESPONSIBLE]

        2. Wéi 為 (ant. wú wéi 無為 "not engage in purposeful and result-orientated self-assertive action") focusses not on the act itself but primarily on the results achieved or aimed for.

        [OCCASIONAL], [PURPOSEFUL]

        3. Jū 居, when used in this meaning, focusses not on the results of one's actions, or on the effect of one's actions on others, but on the moral character of one's behaviour as such.

        [HABITUAL], [RESPONSIBLE], [SYSTEMATIC]

        4. Shì 事 (ant.* xián 閒 "take it easy") primarily focusses on action as part of the fulfilment of a duty imposed by one's station in life or a task one has set oneself.

        [PRESCRIBED], [PUBLIC!], [RESPONSIBLE]

        5. Gōng 躬 (ant.* shǐ rén 使人 "get others to...") focusses on a person of considerable social status engaging personally in a (typically public) action. See SELF.

        [MARGINAL], [NOBLE], [OCCASIONAL], [PUBLIC!]

        6. Wěi 偽 (ant. tiān 天 "natural") refers to artificial or faked human action. See PRETEND.

        [ARTIFICIAL], [DEROGATORY!]

        7. Dòng 動 (ant. jìng 靜 "decide to remain inactive") typically refers to spontaneous purposeful action and focusses almost philosophically on the autonomous decision of the agent to act.

        [OCCASIONAL], [DELIBERATE]

        8. Zuò 作 (ant. xí 息 "fail to take the initiative, fail to become active") refers to the taking of an initiative for an action which would not have occurred without such a deliberate initiative, and the word is naturally associated with the notion of creativity.

        SPONTANEOUS, OCCASIONAL, PERFECTIVE

        9. Jǔ 舉 refers specifically to the undertaking of a well-considered major act, particularly as part of a political strategy.

        [DELIBERATE], [PURPOSEFUL], [RESPONSIBLE]

        NB: Fēng 風 refers rather generally and abstractly to a person's or a group's way or pattern of behaviour, and the word is usually used as a noun. See CUSTOM

        10. Jiā 加 typically refers to action insofar as it affects others.

        11. Xí 習 refers to the habitual repeated practice of something in order to achieve proficiency in the kind of action concerned.

        Word relations
      • Assoc: (LEISURE)暇/LEISURE Xiá 暇 refers specifically to the time of leisure between working spells.