In the Chinese word for "allowance" or "permission"—允许 (Yǔnxǔ)—the character 允 (Yǔn) is composed of a head (some say a mouth) at the top and a person (儿) at the bottom. Its original meaning is rooted in sincerity and truth. As the ancient dictionary Shuowen Jiezi states: "Yǔn means trust." The core of this character lies in Truth (真). The ancients believed that only when a person is sincere in heart and consistent in word and deed does their "allowance" hold weight.
Published: 2026-01-04