偶

ǒu

even number; partner; idol; by chance

Meaning

  • Numerical parity: even numbers.
  • Relational pairing: a mate, spouse, or matching partner (implying a complementary pair).
  • Representational doubles: an idol, statue, or puppet; a surrogate for a human or deity.
  • Circumstantial coincidence: an unplanned pairing of events in time or space; "accidentally" or "by chance."
  • Unfamiliarity (rare): a stranger or unexpected person who does not match the speaker's known social circle.

Grammar and usage

  • Noun: partner, statue/idol, even number.
  • Adjective: even (numerical), paired, matched.
  • Adverb: coincidentally, accidentally.

Distinctions

  • In mathematical or structural contexts, 偶 (even) is the opposite of 奇 (odd).

History and forms

  • Diachronic shift: The noun and adjective senses regarding pairing and parity are more prominent in earlier texts. In later classical prose, the adverbial sense ("by chance") becomes dominant.

Translator notes

  • When translating, prioritize "Even/Pair" if the passage is mathematical or relational; prioritize "Chance" if it describes the manner in which an event occurred.
  • Note that when referring to idols or statues, the term can carry a connotation of artificiality or lifelessness.

Decontextualized translator aid. This page describes plausible lexical range; it does not choose what the glyph means in a particular passage.