遠

yuǎn

distant, remote, far; profound

Meaning

  • Spatial: Distant, remote, far.
  • Temporal: Long ago; far into the future.
  • Abstract/Intellectual: Profound or far-reaching; denotes a breadth of vision or reach of thought (the "long view"). When paired with terms for vision or thinking, it typically denotes foresight or strategic wisdom.

Grammar and usage

  • Adjective: Standard modifier.
  • Verb: To travel far; to remove oneself from a place or influence (distancing).
  • Complement/Adverbial: Used to describe the degree of an action or the extent to which something is carried out.

Distinctions

  • Contrast with 遙 (yáo): While both indicate distance, 遠 is generally descriptive and objective; 遙 often carries a poetic or emotive charge, suggesting an unreachable distance or a sense of longing.
  • Contrast with 深 (shēn): In abstract contexts, 遠 refers to horizontal reach or foresight rather than vertical depth.

History and forms

  • Standard/Simplified form: U+8FDC.

Translator notes

  • Social vs. Physical Remoteness: Use caution when translating as "remote" in a social context. 遠 usually implies a stretched connection rather than total estrangement; ensure the surrounding text supports a relational break before opting for "estranged."
  • Contextual Trigger: If the passage concerns scholarship, governance, or policy, consider whether "distant" is serving as a metaphor for "profound" or "far-reaching."

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