2. Yan (pinyin: yàn, yān) is a first-class Chinese character (commonly used), which was first seen in Oracle Bone Inscriptions in Shang Dynasty. The ancient swallow shape is like the image of a swallow. The original meaning refers to this kind of bird, which means to feast and be happy. Yan also read yān, which is the name of the Zhou Dynasty vassal, in northern Hebei and western Liaoning today. Hebei was nicknamed Yan in the old society.