建 is a compound ideographic character, composed of 廴 and 聿. 廴 means walking and suggests the meaning of action; 聿 means writing brush and suggest the meaning of the law; hence 建 means “to establish the law/legislate”. 建 serves as a phonetic component to form characters. Continue reading “建 legislate”
聿 writing brush
聿, cognate of 筆(笔), originally a writing brush. In oracle bone script and bronze script, 聿 
was like a hand hold a writing brush. It serves as phonetic as well as semantic component to form characters. Continue reading “聿 writing brush”
Formulas of 传
The original meaning of 传 is post-chaise or stagecoach. Other meanings closely related to its original meaning were derived. Continue reading “Formulas of 传”
辜 death penalty
辜 is a phono-semantic character. In the seal script, 辜 
= 
(古)+ 
(辛). Continue reading “辜 death penalty”
辈 from chariots to generation
辈 is a phono-semantic character. In the seal script, 辈 
= 
(非) + 
(車). 車 acts as semantic component and 非 phonetic. Continue reading “辈 from chariots to generation”