若

Mandarin · pinyin rě#

Meanings · rě

  1. used in 般若 bō rě
  2. used in 蘭若 lán rě
Mandarin · pinyin ruò#

Meanings · ruò

  1. to seem
  2. like
  3. as
  4. if
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Characters in this entry

若
ruò · if, supposing, assuming; similar
Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

3 · re3

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Compare dictionary sources Rime · Wiktionary

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

je5 · joek6

Cantonese word readings for 若. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

character · Etymology 1

  1. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) to be obedient to; compliant
  2. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) to trim vegetables
  3. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) to choose
  4. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) you; your
  5. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) he; his
  6. like; as if
  7. if; supposing; assuming
  8. in this way
  9. (Chinese mythology) Ruo, mythological divine being of the northern seas
  10. Pollia japonica
  11. a surname

character · Etymology 2

  1. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) hay; dried grass
  2. Used in compounds.

character · Etymology 3

  1. Placename in Sichuan.

character · Etymology 4

  1. (Eastern Min, Teochew) how much; how

character · Etymology 5

  1. (Hokkien) alternative form of 偌

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack