Chinese surname · rank 213
岑
岑 is read as cén.
Pinyin
cén
Script forms
Simplified and traditional 岑
Basic meaning
steep, precipitous; peak
Five element
Earth
Origin
Time: Zhou fief or state tradition, 1046-256 BCE
Place: Ancient Cen fief or state-name tradition; place-name lineage layer.
Origin note
Cen is commonly explained through an ancient fief or state name. The character's hill meaning is useful for literacy, but the surname story belongs to place-name lineage history.
Historical figures
Historical figures to enrich
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