# 鮮

| 鮮 | U+9BAE, &#39854; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-9BAE |
| ← 鮭 [U+9BAD] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 鮯 → [U+9BAF] |

## Translingual
### Han character

鮮 (Kangxi radical 195, 魚+6, 17 strokes, cangjie input 弓火廿手 (NFTQ), four-corner 2835$_1$, composition ⿰魚羊)

#### References

* Kangxi Dictionary: page 1470, character 6
* Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 46133
* Dae Jaweon: page 2002, character 25
* Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 7, page 4688, character 6
* Unihan data for U+9BAE

## Chinese
### Glyph origin

* Historical forms of the character 鮮
* Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)
* Small seal script
| | Old Chinese |
| 鮮 | *sen, *senʔ, *sens |
| 廯 | *sen, *senʔ |
| 癬 | *senʔ |
| 蘚 | *senʔ |
Phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声, OC *sen, *senʔ, *sens): semantic 魚 (“fish”) + abbreviated phonetic 羴 (OC *qʰreːn, *qʰljen).
Alternatively, may be ideogrammic compound (會意 / 会意): 魚 (“fish”) + 羊 (“sheep”) – delicious.

### Etymology 1

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *gsjar (“new; fresh”) (STEDT). Cognate with Proto-Tibeto-Burman *g-sar (“new; fresh”), whence Tibetan གསར་བ (gsar ba, “new; fresh”), Rawang angsar (“new”), Drung aksal (“new”), Mizo tʰarᴴ (“new”) (Schuessler, 2007); cognate with Tibetan གསར་ (gsar, “new”), Burmese ဆန်း (hcan:, “new, fresh”) (Hill, 2019).

#### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Standard)
       (Pinyin): xiān (xian$^1$)
       (Zhuyin): ㄒㄧㄢ
    (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): xuan$^1$
* Cantonese (Jyutping): sin$^1$
* Gan (Wiktionary): xien$^1$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): siên
    (Meixian, Guangdong): xiên$^1$
* Jin (Wiktionary): xie$^1$
* Northern Min (KCR): síng
* Eastern Min (BUC): chiĕng / siĕng
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): chhiⁿ / chhíⁿ / sian / sián
    (Teochew, Peng'im): cin$^1$ / siang$^1$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^1$shi
* Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): sienn$^1$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: xiān
*** Zhuyin: ㄒㄧㄢ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: sian
*** Wade–Giles: hsien$^1$
*** Yale: syān
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shian
*** Palladius: сянь (sjanʹ)
*** Sinological IPA : /ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: xuan$^1$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: xuan
*** Sinological IPA : /ɕyan⁵⁵/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: sin$^1$
*** Yale: sīn
*** Cantonese Pinyin: sin$^1$
*** Guangdong Romanization: xin$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /siːn⁵⁵/
* Gan
** (Nanchang)
*** Wiktionary: xien$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /ɕiɛn⁴²/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: siên
*** Hakka Romanization System: xien$^ˊ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: xian$^1$
*** Sinological IPA: /si̯en²⁴/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: xiên$^1$
*** Sinological IPA: /siɛn⁴⁴/
* Jin
** (Taiyuan)
*** Wiktionary: xie$^1$
*** Sinological IPA (old-style): /ɕie¹¹/
* Northern Min
** (Jian'ou)
*** Kienning Colloquial Romanized: síng
*** Sinological IPA : /siŋ⁵⁴/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: chiĕng / siĕng
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰieŋ⁵⁵/, /sieŋ⁵⁵/
* chiĕng - vernacular;
* siĕng - literary.
* Dialectal data
| Variety | Location | edit鮮 |
| Mandarin | Beijing | /ɕian⁵⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Harbin | /ɕian⁴⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Tianjin | /ɕian²¹/ |
| Mandarin | Jinan | /ɕiã²¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Qingdao | /siã²¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Zhengzhou | /sian²⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Xi'an | /ɕiã²¹/ |
| Mandarin | Xining | /ɕiã⁵³/ |
| Mandarin | Yinchuan | /ɕian⁴⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Lanzhou | /ɕiɛ̃n³¹/ |
| Mandarin | Ürümqi | /ɕian⁴⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Wuhan | /ɕiɛn⁵⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Chengdu | /ɕyan⁵⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Guiyang | /ɕian⁵⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Kunming | /ɕiɛ̃⁴⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Nanjing | /ɕyen³¹/ |
| Mandarin | Hefei | /ɕyĩ²¹/ |
| Jin | Taiyuan | /ɕie¹¹/ |
| Jin | Pingyao | /ɕie̞¹³/ |
| Jin | Hohhot | /ɕie³¹/ |
| Wu | Shanghai | /ɕi⁵³/ |
| Wu | Suzhou | /siɪ⁵⁵/ |
| Wu | Hangzhou | /ɕiẽ̞³³/ |
| Wu | Wenzhou | /ɕiɛ³³/ |
| Hui | Shexian | /ɕie³¹/ /ɕye³¹/ |
| Hui | Tunxi | /siɛ¹¹/ |
| Xiang | Changsha | /siẽ³³/ |
| Xiang | Xiangtan | /siẽ³³/ |
| Gan | Nanchang | /ɕiɛn⁴²/ |
| Hakka | Meixian | /sien⁴⁴/ |
| Hakka | Taoyuan | /sien³¹/ |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | /sin⁵³/ |
| Cantonese | Nanning | /ɬin⁵⁵/ /ɬin³⁵/ |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | /sin⁵⁵/ |
| Min | Xiamen (Hokkien) | /sian⁵⁵/ /t͡sʰĩ⁵⁵/ |
| Min | Fuzhou (Eastern Min) | /t͡sʰieŋ⁴⁴/ |
| Min | Jian'ou (Northern Min) | /siŋ⁵⁴/ |
| Min | Shantou (Teochew) | /t͡sʰĩ³³/ |
| Min | Haikou (Hainanese) | /sin³¹/ 朝～ /si²³/ 新～ |
* Middle Chinese: sjen
Rime :
| Character | 鮮 |
| Reading # | 1/3 |
| Initial (聲) | 心 (16) |
| Final (韻) | 仙 (77) |
| Tone (調) | Level (Ø) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 相然切 |
| Baxter | sjen |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /siᴇn/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /siɛn/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /sjæn/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /sian/ |
| Li Rong | /siɛn/ |
| Wang Li | /sĭɛn/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /si̯ɛn/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | xiān |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | sin$^1$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*[s][a]r/, /*s[a]r/
    (Zhengzhang): /*sen/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 鮮 | 鮮 |
| Reading # | 1/3 | 2/3 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | xiān | xiān |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ sjen › | ‹ sjen › |
| Old Chinese | /*[s][a]r/ | /*s[a]r/ |
| English | fresh; good | 鮮卑 *s[a]r.pe Xiānbēi |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. |||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 鮮 |
| Reading # | 1/3 |
| No. | 13490 |
| Phonetic component | 鮮 |
| Rime group | 元 |
| Rime subdivision | 2 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 仙 |
| Old Chinese | /*sen/ |
| Notes | 說文羴省聲 |

#### Definitions

鮮
* seafood; aquatic food
    海鮮／海鲜 ― hǎixiān ― seafood
* delicious food; fresh food
    嘗鮮／尝鲜 ― chángxiān ― to taste fresh food
* fresh; not stale
    鮮魚／鲜鱼 ― xiānyú ― fresh fish
* brightly colored; gaily colored
       Nàkuàibùdeyánsèhěnxiān. [Pinyin]
       The color of that piece of cloth is very bright.
* delicious; tasty
       Māmāzhǔdetāngdewèidàohěnxīnxiān. [Pinyin]
       The soup that mother cooked tastes delicious.
* not yet withered; not yet wilted (of flowers, grass, etc.)
    鮮花／鲜花 ― xiānhuā ― fresh flower
* special; peculiar; strange and interesting
    屢見不鮮／屡见不鲜 ― lǚjiànbùxiān ― common occurrence
       Xiǎoháishuōdehuàhěnxiān. [Pinyin]
       The words of the child were peculiar.
* (Hakka) thin; dilute
* (Zhangzhou Hokkien) sky blue; azure
* a surname

##### Synonyms

| Variety | Location | Words |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 新鮮 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 新鮮 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 新鮮 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 新鮮 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 新鮮 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Luoyang | 新鮮 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Wanrong | 新鮮 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 新新 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guiyang | 新鮮 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin | 新鮮 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 新鮮 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 新鮮 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 生鮮 |
| Cantonese | Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu) | 新鮮 |
| Cantonese | Penang (Guangfu) | 新鮮 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 新鮮 |
| Gan | Pingxiang | 新新, 新鮮 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 新鮮 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 萋, 新鮮 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 萋, 新鮮 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 萋, 新鮮 |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 萋, 新鮮 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 萋, 新鮮 |
| Hakka | Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 萋 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 鮮, 鮮尺 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 鮮, 鮮尺, 鮮臊 |
| Southern Min | Jinjiang | 鮮尺 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 鮮, 鮮尺, 鮮臊 |
| Southern Min | Zhao'an | 鮮 |
| Southern Min | Dongshan | 鮮 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 鮮, 鮮尺 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 鮮 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 鮮, 鮮尺 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 鮮尺 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 鮮, 新鮮 |
| Southern Min | Shantou | 鮮 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Teochew) | 鮮 |
| Southern Min | Wenchang | 新鮮 |
| Southern Min | Haikou | 生鮮 |
| Southern Min | Qionghai | 新鮮 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Chongming) | 新鮮 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 新鮮, 鮮鮮 dated |
| Xiang | Loudi | 新新 |
| Variety | Location | Words |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 稀 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 稀 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 稀 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 稀 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 稀 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 清, 稀 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 稀, 清 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Yangzhou | 稀, 消 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hefei | 稀, 消 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 稀, 削 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 稀, 削 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (San Tin; Weitou) | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Kam Tin; Weitou) | 清 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Ting Kok) | 鮮 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau) | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Macau | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Panyu) | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu) | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Conghua) | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Zengcheng) | 清 |
| Cantonese | Foshan | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai) | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shunde) | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Sanshui) | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming) | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Zhongshan (Shiqi) | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou) | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka) | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Doumen) | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Baisha) | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Xinhui) | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Kaiping (Chikan) | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Enping (Niujiang) | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Heshan (Yayao) | 稀 |
| Cantonese | Dongguan | 清 |
| Cantonese | Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an) | 清 |
| Cantonese | Yangjiang | 清 |
| Cantonese | Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu) | 稀 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 清, 稀 |
| Gan | Jianning | 清 |
| Gan | Taining | 清 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 鮮 |
| Hakka | Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua) | 稀 |
| Hakka | Dongguan (Qingxi) | 鮮 |
| Hakka | Shenzhen (Shatoujiao) | 鮮 |
| Hakka | Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui) | 稀 |
| Hakka | Changting | 鮮 |
| Hakka | Shanghang | 鮮 |
| Hakka | Longyan (Yongding) | 鮮 |
| Hakka | Wuping | 鮮 |
| Hakka | Liancheng | 鮮 |
| Hakka | Ninghua | 鮮 |
| Hakka | Qingliu | 鮮 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 鮮 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 鮮 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 鮮 |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 鮮 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 鮮 |
| Hakka | Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 鮮 |
| Hakka | Hong Kong | 鮮 |
| Hakka | Senai (Huiyang) | 鮮 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 稀 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 增 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou (Dikou) | 增 |
| Northern Min | Nanping (Xiayang, Yanping) | 增 |
| Northern Min | Songxi | 增 |
| Northern Min | Zhenghe | 增 |
| Northern Min | Zhenghe (Zhenqian) | 增 |
| Northern Min | Shunchang (Yangdun) | 增 |
| Northern Min | Jianyang | 增 |
| Northern Min | Wuyishan | 增 |
| Northern Min | Pucheng (Shibei) | 增 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 清 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou (Changle) | 清 |
| Eastern Min | Lianjiang | 清 |
| Eastern Min | Fuqing | 漖, 清 |
| Eastern Min | Pingtan | 稀 |
| Eastern Min | Yongtai | 清 |
| Eastern Min | Minqing | 清 |
| Eastern Min | Gutian | 淺 |
| Eastern Min | Pingnan | 淺 |
| Eastern Min | Luoyuan | 淺 |
| Eastern Min | Fu'an | 清 |
| Eastern Min | Ningde | 清, 淺, 稀 |
| Eastern Min | Xiapu | 稀 |
| Eastern Min | Zherong | 清 |
| Eastern Min | Shouning | 清 |
| Eastern Min | Zhouning | 淺, 清 |
| Eastern Min | Fuding | 清 |
| Eastern Min | Youxi | 清 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 漖, 飲 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen (Tong'an) | 飲 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 漖 |
| Southern Min | Jinjiang | 漖 |
| Southern Min | Nan'an | 漖, 飲 |
| Southern Min | Shishi | 漖 |
| Southern Min | Hui'an | 漖, 飲 |
| Southern Min | Anxi | 漖 |
| Southern Min | Yongchun | 漖 |
| Southern Min | Dehua | 漖 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 漖, 飲 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou (Longhai) | 飲 |
| Southern Min | Hua'an | 飲 |
| Southern Min | Nanjing | 飲 |
| Southern Min | Pinghe | 漖 |
| Southern Min | Zhangpu | 飲 |
| Southern Min | Yunxiao | 漖 |
| Southern Min | Zhao'an | 漖 |
| Southern Min | Dongshan | 漖 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 漖 |
| Southern Min | Kinmen | 漖 |
| Southern Min | Longyan | 鬻 |
| Southern Min | Zhangping | 鬻 |
| Southern Min | Zhangping (Yongfu) | 鬻 |
| Southern Min | Datian | 鬻 |
| Southern Min | Datian (Guangping) | 增 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 漖, 𬓤 |
| Southern Min | Shantou | 𬓤 |
| Southern Min | Shantou (Chenghai) | 𬓤 |
| Southern Min | Jieyang | 漖, 𬓤 |
| Southern Min | Bangkok (Teochew) | 𬓤 |
| Southern Min | Johor Bahru (Teochew) | 𬓤 |
| Southern Min | Leizhou | 浮 |
| Puxian Min | Putian | 漖 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou | 漖 |
| Central Min | Yong'an | 增 |
| Central Min | Sanming (Sanyuan) | 增 |
| Central Min | Sanming (Shaxian) | 增 |
| Shaojiang Min | Shaowu | 清 |
| Shaojiang Min | Guangze | 清 |
| Shaojiang Min | Jiangle | 清 |
| Shaojiang Min | Mingxi | 清 |
| Shaojiang Min | Shunchang | 清 |
| Zhongshan Min | Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi) | 稀 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 薄 |
| Wu | Yuyao | 薄, 朗 |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 薄 |
| Wu | Pucheng | 清 |
| Xiang | Changsha | 清, 稀 |
| Xiang | Shuangfeng | 清, 稀 |

#### Compounds

* 一朵鮮花插在牛糞上 / 一朵鲜花插在牛粪上 (yī duǒ xiānhuā chā zài niúfèn shàng)
* 三鮮 / 三鲜 (sānxiān)
* 保鮮 / 保鲜 (bǎoxiān)
* 保鮮盒 / 保鲜盒
* 保鮮膜 / 保鲜膜 (bǎoxiānmó)
* 光鮮 / 光鲜 (guāngxiān)
* 如烹小鮮 / 如烹小鲜
* 小鮮 / 小鲜
* 小鮮肉 / 小鲜肉 (xiǎoxiānròu)
* 屢見不鮮 / 屡见不鲜 (lǚjiànbùxiān)
* 嵐翠鮮明 / 岚翠鲜明
* 數見不鮮 / 数见不鲜 (shuòjiànbùxiān)
* 新鮮 / 新鲜 (xīnxiān)
* 新鮮事 / 新鲜事
* 新鮮人 / 新鲜人 (xīnxiānrén)
* 時鮮 / 时鲜 (shíxiān)
* 朝鮮 / 朝鲜
* 海鮮 / 海鲜 (hǎixiān, “seafood”)
* 甘鮮 / 甘鲜
* 生鮮 / 生鲜 (shēngxiān)
* 白羊鮮 / 白羊鲜
* 碧鮮 / 碧鲜
* 空水澄鮮 / 空水澄鲜
* 肥鮮 / 肥鲜
* 貓兒見了魚鮮飯 / 猫儿见了鱼鲜饭
* 送鮮 / 送鲜
* 魚鮮 / 鱼鲜 (yúxiān)
* 鮮乳 / 鲜乳 (xiānrǔ)
* 鮮亮 / 鲜亮 (xiānliàng)
* 鮮卑 / 鲜卑 (Xiānbēi)
* 鮮味 / 鲜味 (xiānwèi)
* 鮮奶 / 鲜奶 (xiānnǎi)
* 鮮奶油 / 鲜奶油 (xiānnǎiyóu)
* 鮮妍 / 鲜妍
* 鮮嫩 / 鲜嫩 (xiānnèn)
* 鮮明 / 鲜明 (xiānmíng)
* 鮮果 / 鲜果 (xiānguǒ)
* 鮮榮 / 鲜荣
* 鮮沢 / 鲜沢 (chhiⁿ-chhioh) (Min Nan)
* 鮮活 / 鲜活 (xiānhuó)
* 鮮潤 / 鲜润
* 鮮眉亮眼 / 鲜眉亮眼
* 鮮紅 / 鲜红 (xiānhóng)
* 鮮美 / 鲜美 (xiānměi)
* 鮮翠 / 鲜翠 (xiāncuì)
* 鮮肉 / 鲜肉 (xiānròu)
* 鮮花 / 鲜花 (xiānhuā)
* 鮮血 / 鲜血 (xiānxuè)
* 鮮血淋漓 / 鲜血淋漓 (xiānxuèlínlí)
* 鮮衣美食 / 鲜衣美食
* 鮮豔 / 鲜艳 (xiānyàn)
* 鮮豔奪目 / 鲜艳夺目
* 鮮貨 / 鲜货
* 鮮車怒馬 / 鲜车怒马
* 鮮食 / 鲜食
* 鮮飾 / 鲜饰
* 鮮麗 / 鲜丽 (xiānlì)

#### Descendants

* → Vietnamese: tươi

### Etymology 2

Etymology not clear (Schuessler, 2007).

#### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): xiǎn (xian$^3$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄒㄧㄢˇ
* Cantonese (Jyutping): sin$^2$
* Eastern Min (BUC): siēng
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): sián
    (Teochew, Peng'im): siang$^2$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^5$shi
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: xiǎn
*** Zhuyin: ㄒㄧㄢˇ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: siǎn
*** Wade–Giles: hsien$^3$
*** Yale: syǎn
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shean
*** Palladius: сянь (sjanʹ)
*** Sinological IPA : /ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: sin$^2$
*** Yale: sín
*** Cantonese Pinyin: sin$^2$
*** Guangdong Romanization: xin$^2$
*** Sinological IPA : /siːn³⁵/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: siēng
*** Sinological IPA : /sieŋ³³/
* Southern Min
** (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sián
*** Tâi-lô: sián
*** Phofsit Daibuun: siern
*** IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang): /siɛn⁵⁵⁴/
*** IPA (Kaohsiung): /siɛn⁴¹/
*** IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei): /siɛn⁵³/
** (Teochew)
*** Peng'im: siang$^2$
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: siáng
*** Sinological IPA : /siaŋ⁵²/
* Wu
** (Northern: Shanghai)
*** Wugniu: $^5$shi
*** MiniDict: shi$^去$
*** Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): $^2$xi
*** Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /ɕi³⁴/
* Middle Chinese: sjenX
Rime :
| Character | 鮮 |
| Reading # | 2/3 |
| Initial (聲) | 心 (16) |
| Final (韻) | 仙 (77) |
| Tone (調) | Rising (X) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 息淺切 |
| Baxter | sjenX |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /siᴇn$^X$/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /siɛn$^X$/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /sjæn$^X$/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /sian$^X$/ |
| Li Rong | /siɛn$^X$/ |
| Wang Li | /sĭɛn$^X$/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /si̯ɛn$^X$/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | xiǎn |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | sin$^2$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*[s][e]rʔ/
    (Zhengzhang): /*senʔ/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 鮮 |
| Reading # | 3/3 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | xiǎn |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ sjen$^X$ › |
| Old Chinese | /*[s][e]rʔ/ |
| English | rare, few |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 鮮 |
| Reading # | 2/3 |
| No. | 13492 |
| Phonetic component | 鮮 |
| Rime group | 元 |
| Rime subdivision | 2 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 獮 |
| Old Chinese | /*senʔ/ |
| Notes | 說文羴省聲 |

#### Definitions

鮮
* rare; little; few
    From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4th century BCE, translation from Zuozhuan: Commentary on the "Spring and Autumn Annals" (2017), by Stephen Durrant, Wai-yee Li and David Schaberg
    Liànglì ér dòng, qí guò xiǎn yǐ. [Pinyin]
    If one weighs one’s strength and then acts, one’s errors will be few.
* rarely; infrequently
    From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
    Zǐyuē: “Qiǎoyánlìngsè, xiǎn yǐ rén!” [Pinyin]
    The Master said, "Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue!"
* to lack; to be short of
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) Alternative form of 巘 / 𪩘 (yǎn, “the top of a mountain; cliff; small mountain”)
    From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11th – 7th centuries BCE
    dù qí xiǎn yuán, jū qí zhī yáng [Pinyin]
    He determined the small mountains and hills, settling in the south of Qi

#### Compounds

* 倨傲鮮腆 / 倨傲鲜腆
* 寡廉鮮恥 / 寡廉鲜耻 (guǎliánxiǎnchǐ)
* 寡見鮮聞 / 寡见鲜闻
* 巧言令色，鮮矣仁 / 巧言令色，鲜矣仁 (qiǎoyánlìngsè, xiǎnyǐrén)
* 德薄能鮮 / 德薄能鲜
* 朝鮮 / 朝鲜
* 淺鮮 / 浅鲜
* 靡不有初，鮮克有終 / 靡不有初，鲜克有终
* 鮮少 / 鲜少 (xiǎnshǎo)
* 鮮民 / 鲜民
* 鮮為人知 / 鲜为人知 (xiǎnwéirénzhī)

### Etymology 3
#### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): xiàn (xian$^4$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄒㄧㄢˋ
* Cantonese (Jyutping): sin$^3$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^5$shi
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: xiàn
*** Zhuyin: ㄒㄧㄢˋ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: siàn
*** Wade–Giles: hsien$^4$
*** Yale: syàn
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shiann
*** Palladius: сянь (sjanʹ)
*** Sinological IPA : /ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: sin$^3$
*** Yale: sin
*** Cantonese Pinyin: sin$^3$
*** Guangdong Romanization: xin$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /siːn³³/
* Wu
** (Northern: Shanghai)
*** Wugniu: $^5$shi
*** MiniDict: shi$^去$
*** Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): $^2$xi
*** Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /ɕi³⁴/
* Middle Chinese: sjenH
Rime :
| Character | 鮮 |
| Reading # | 3/3 |
| Initial (聲) | 心 (16) |
| Final (韻) | 仙 (77) |
| Tone (調) | Departing (H) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 私箭切 |
| Baxter | sjenH |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /siᴇn$^H$/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /siɛn$^H$/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /sjæn$^H$/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /sian$^H$/ |
| Li Rong | /siɛn$^H$/ |
| Wang Li | /sĭɛn$^H$/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /si̯ɛn$^H$/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | xiàn |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | sin$^3$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Zhengzhang): /*sens/
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 鮮 |
| Reading # | 3/3 |
| No. | 13496 |
| Phonetic component | 鮮 |
| Rime group | 元 |
| Rime subdivision | 2 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 線 |
| Old Chinese | /*sens/ |

#### Definitions

鮮
* (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) Alternative form of 獻 / 献 (“to offer; to present”)

#### Compounds

* 惠鮮 / 惠鲜

### Further reading

* “鮮”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2025.

## Japanese
### Kanji

(Jōyō kanji)
* This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

#### Readings

* Go-on: せん (sen, Jōyō)
* Kan-on: せん (sen, Jōyō)
* Kun: あざやか (azayaka, 鮮やか, Jōyō)、すくない (sukunai, 鮮い)、あたらしい (atarashii, 鮮しい)

#### Compounds

* 新鮮(しんせん) (shinsen)
* 鮮衣(せんい) (sen'i)
* 鮮花(せんか) (senka)
* 鮮華(せんか) (senka)
* 鮮暉(せんき) (senki)
* 鮮輝(せんき) (senki)
* 鮮魚(せんぎょ) (sengyo)
* 鮮血(せんけつ) (senketsu)
* 鮮潔(せんけつ) (senketsu)
* 鮮妍(せんけん) (senken)
* 鮮好(せんこう) (senkō)
* 鮮少(せんしょう) (senshō)
* 鮮色(せんしょく) (senshoku)
* 鮮食(せんしょく) (senshoku)
* 鮮飾(せんしょく) (senshoku)
* 鮮新(せんしん) (senshin)
* 鮮盛(せんせい) (sensei)
* 鮮腆(せんてん) (senten)
* 鮮白(せんびゃく) (senbyaku)
* 鮮美(せんび) (senbi)
* 鮮媚(せんび) (senbi)
* 鮮肥(せんぴ) (senpi)
* 鮮卑(せんぴ) (Senpi)
* 鮮明(せんめい) (senmei)
* 鮮耀(せんよう) (sen'yō)
* 鮮麗(せんれい) (senrei)
* 朝鮮(ちょうせん) (Chōsen)
* 白鮮(ハクセン) (hakusen)

### Etymology

* Kanji in this term
* 鮮
* せん Grade: S
* on'yomi
From Middle Chinese 鮮 (MC sjen|sjenX|sjenH).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: [sẽ̞ɴ]

### Affix

鮮(せん) • (sen)
* fresh
* vivid
* (Empire of Japan) Korea
    全(ぜん)鮮(せん) ― zensen ― the entirety of Korea
    内(ない)鮮(せん)一体(いったい) ― naisen ittai ― unification of the mainland and Korea

## Korean
### Hanja

鮮 (eumhun 고울 선 (goul seon))
* hanja form of 선 (“smooth; fish”)

#### Compounds

* 조선 (朝鮮, joseon, “Joseon; Korea”)
* 생선 (生鮮, saengseon, “fish”)
* 선혈 (鮮血, seonhyeol, “recently spilled blood”)

## Vietnamese
### Han character

鮮: Hán Nôm readings: tiên, tắn
* This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.