ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY
远
far / distant
yuǎn
7 strokes · 辶 (walk radical) + 元 (sound) — a long way to walk · HSK 2
远 in traditional Chinese
遠
What 远 is made of
辶 + 元 = 远
辶walking (movement)
元yuan (currency); first; origin yuán
Where 远 comes from
远 (traditional 遠) is the walking radical 辶 stretched by the sound 元: a distance measured in steps. Far, in a walking civilization, meant far on foot.
远 in Chinese culture
远 measures space and vision: 很远 (very far — the taxi-fare negotiation word), 远方 (the far-off place — where Chinese poetry keeps its longing), 永远 (forever — 'eternally far'). Confucius: 有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎 — 'friends coming from afar, is it not a joy?' — still the standard welcome-banner quote. 眼光要放远 says every mentor: set your gaze far.
Example
永远 yǒngyuǎn — forever
火车站离这儿远吗？
Huǒchēzhàn lí zhèr yuǎn ma?
Is the train station far from here?
How to remember it
A long, long walk 辶 ahead — FAR.
有朋自远方来 'a friend from afar' — Confucius's welcome line greets you at airports and school gates all over China.
Same sound, different tones
Words unlocked by 远
很远 hěn yuǎn
very far
永远 yǒngyuǎn
forever
远方 yuǎnfāng
faraway place
Related characters
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