衍 yǎn to overflow
to overflow; to spread out
How to remember 衍: 彳 step forward + 氵 water + 亍 footstep = to overflow. The boy takes one step forward, hears water running, and with his next footstep lands in a puddle, because the bath has started to overflow.
Component breakdown
衍 = 彳 step forward + 氵 water + 亍 footstep
- 彳 step forward
- 氵 water
- 亍 footstep
The boy takes one step forward, hears water running, and with his next footstep lands in a puddle, because the bath has started to overflow.
How it is used
- 'To spread out / derive' - 衍生 (yǎnshēng) to derive/spin off (衍生品 derivatives, 衍生剧 a spin-off show), 繁衍 (fányǎn) to reproduce/multiply (of populations).
- Note the odd one out: 敷衍 (fūyǎn) means to do something perfunctorily / go through the motions - 敷衍了事 (do a slapdash job).