于 is a pictographic character. In oracle bone, the character depicts the airflow passing obstacles. For its original meaning, there are also other different versions. 于 serves as a phonetic component to form characters. Continue reading “于 airflow passing obstacles”
Tag: phonetic
由 small pathway leading to the fields
The original meaning of 由 is a small pathway leading to the fields. 由serves as a phonetic component to form characters. Continue reading “由 small pathway leading to the fields”
包 a fetus in the fetal membranes
包, cognate of 胞, originally meant a fetus in the embryonic membranes, a meaning later replaced by 胞. It serves as phonetic component to form characters.
建 legislate
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”
古 ancient
古 is a compound ideograph. 古 = 十 + 口. 十 means countless in ancient Chinese; 口 is a mouth. 古 depicts that ancient stories were told by countless people and passed down through generations, so the original meaning of 古 is “ancient/old”.