阿荔散

Chinese

		phonetic
trad. (阿荔散)		阿	荔	散
simp. #(阿荔散)		阿	荔	散

Etymology

Phonetic borrowing from Pali, variously in the form of alasanda (Milindapañha) or alasaṇdā (Mahāvaṃsa), or from Gandhari [Term?] (Pulleyblank, 1999), which in turn derived from Ancient Greek Ἀλεξάνδρεια (Alexándreia). Chiefly attested in Buddhist literature. Doublet of 烏弋山離／乌弋山离 (Wūyìshānlí), 亚历山大 (Yàlìshāndà).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): Ālìsǎn, Ālìsàn

  (Zhuyin): ㄚ ㄌㄧˋ ㄙㄢˇ, ㄚ ㄌㄧˋ ㄙㄢˋ

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: Ālìsǎn
    • Zhuyin: ㄚ ㄌㄧˋ ㄙㄢˇ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: Alìsǎn
    • Wade–Giles: A¹-li⁴-san³
    • Yale: Ā-lì-sǎn
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: Alihsaan
    • Palladius: Алисань (Alisanʹ)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ˀä⁵⁵ li⁵¹ sän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/
      
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: Ālìsàn
    • Zhuyin: ㄚ ㄌㄧˋ ㄙㄢˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: Alìsàn
    • Wade–Giles: A¹-li⁴-san⁴
    • Yale: Ā-lì-sàn
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: Alihsann
    • Palladius: Алисань (Alisanʹ)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ˀä⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ sän⁵¹/

---

• Middle Chinese: 'a ljeH|lejH sanX|sanH

Rime
Character	阿	荔	荔	散	散
Reading #	1/1	1/2	2/2	1/2	2/2
Initial (聲)	影 (34)	來 (37)	來 (37)	心 (16)	心 (16)
Final (韻)	歌 (94)	支 (11)	齊 (39)	寒 (61)	寒 (61)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)	Departing (H)	Departing (H)	Rising (X)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open	Open	Open	Open	Open
Division (等)	I	III	IV	I	I
Fanqie	烏何切	力智切	郎計切	蘇旱切	蘇旰切
Baxter	'a	ljeH	lejH	sanX	sanH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ʔɑ/	/liᴇH/	/leiH/	/sɑnX/	/sɑnH/
Pan Wuyun	/ʔɑ/	/liɛH/	/leiH/	/sɑnX/	/sɑnH/
Shao Rongfen	/ʔɑ/	/ljɛH/	/lɛiH/	/sɑnX/	/sɑnH/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ʔa/	/liə̆H/	/lɛjH/	/sanX/	/sanH/
Li Rong	/ʔɑ/	/lieH/	/leiH/	/sɑnX/	/sɑnH/
Wang Li	/ɑ/	/lǐeH/	/lieiH/	/sɑnX/	/sɑnH/
Bernard Karlgren	/ʔɑ/	/lie̯H/	/lieiH/	/sɑnX/	/sɑnH/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	ē	lì	lì	sǎn	sàn
Expected Cantonese Reflex	o1	lei6	lai6	saan2	saan3

Proper noun

阿荔散

1. (historical) Alexandria; Alasanda (a common place name in the Hellenistic world)

   • 那先問王：「王本生何國？」王言：「我本生大秦國，國名阿荔散。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     那先问王：「王本生何国？」王言：「我本生大秦国，国名阿荔散。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: c. 4th century, anonymous translator. Bhikkhu Nāgasena Sutta (《那先比丘經》), related to the Milinda Pañha text.

     Nàxiān wèn Wáng: “Wáng běnshēng héguó?” Wáng yán: “Wǒ běnshēng Dàqín guó, guó míng Ālìsàn.” [Pinyin]

     Nāgasena asks: "Where was Your Majesty born?" "I was born in Daqin, in a major city named Alexandria," says the King.