衍
yǎn
#2,432 most
frequent character
to spread out, to develop
Character breakdown
Source: Make Me a Hanzi.
衍 shows 行, a crossing or movement, and 氵, water. Together they point to the first meaning, a long river. The river's flow grew to overflow, then to spread out or develop, and finally to superfluous.
Drawn as: intersection; water
衍 as a component in other characters
sound1 character
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