占

zhàn

divine; observe; occupy

Meaning

  • Ritual and Interpretive: The act of observing phenomena (omens, celestial bodies, etc.) to discern divine will or future outcomes. This includes both the observation of the sign and its interpretation. In some contexts, this extends to "versifying"—the process of translating an observed omen into a formal statement or verdict (cí 辭).
  • Spatial and Political: To occupy, seize, hold, or take possession of a place, rank, or proportion.

Grammar and usage

  • Transitive Verb: Takes the omen/situation (ritual) or the location/rank (spatial) as its object.
  • Noun: In ritual contexts, may refer to the act of divination itself or, by extension, the diviner.

Distinctions

  • 卜 vs. 占: While often paired, bǔ (卜) typically refers specifically to pyromancy (cracking bone/shell), whereas zhān (占) is a broader term for observing and interpreting signs. A text using both may be distinguishing the technical method (bǔ) from the interpretive conclusion (zhān).
  • 據 vs. 占: In the sense of "occupying," 占 emphasizes the act of taking or holding; jù (據) emphasizes basing oneself on a position or relying on a stronghold.

History and forms

  • Variants: The semantic variant 佔 is used specifically for "occupying." In later strata, the spatial sense often shifts to this form. If 佔 appears, the ritual sense is generally excluded; if the plain form 占 appears, both senses remain possible depending on context.

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