Glyph Origins

Radical ⼀ (1)

一 (U+4E00)

Shang
(Shi)
Late W.ZhouChunqiu
(Jin)
QinW.HanE.HanW.JinNanbei
(N.Wei)
Tang
合20616近出345溫縣T1K1:2279睡.效51北.老6乙瑛碑郭槐柩記元壽安墓誌五經文字

{一} *ʔi[t] “one”

Depiction of a single line.

  • 季旭昇 2014 - 說文新證 [2nd ed.] (37-39)
  • 裘錫圭 2013 - 文字學概要 [2nd ed.] [2021 form.] (3-5)

丁 (U+4E01)

ShangShang
(Shi)
Early
W.Zhou
Middle
W.Zhou
Zhanguo
(Jin)
Zhanguo
(Jin)
QinHanE.HanNanbei
(N.Wei)
集1289合1893集6495新收1845集226璽彙3167睡.日乙33居舊10.34A孔宙碑魏郭顯墓誌

{頂} *tˤeŋʔ “head” ♪→ {丁} *tˤeŋ “ding (4th heavenly stem)”

Abstract depiction of a human head.

  • 于省吾 1979 - 甲骨文字釋林・釋具有部分表音的獨體象形字 (439-441)

丂 (U+4E02)

丂¹

*{丂} *kʰouᴮ “the appearance of air which is to be released”

Shortened form of . It and its usage was created for Shuowen Jiezi to explain its form and appearance in glyphs such as “to yell” or exclamatory particle”.

丂²

{柯} *[k]ˤar “axe-handle”

Depiction of an axe-handle.

  • 屈萬里 1961 - 殷墟文字甲編考釋 (398)
  • 林志強 & al. (ed.) 2017 - 《文源》評注 (119)
  • 王帥 2018 - 甲骨文“丂”、“昜”新解
  • 李春桃 2020 - 甲骨文中“丂”字新釋

丂³

{杖} *lraŋʔ “cane”

Depiction of a cane.

  • 陳劍 2018 - 以一些例子談談甲骨文字考釋可注意的問題
  • 王帥 2018 - 甲骨文“丂”、“昜”新解
  • 李春桃 2020 - 甲骨文中“丂”字新釋

七 (U+4E03)

{七} *(C)Vs.ni[t] “seven”

Unknown. Likely an early arbitrary sign.

  • 裘錫圭 2013 - 文字學概要 [2nd ed.] [2021 form.] (5, 31-32)
  • 復旦大學出土文獻與古文字研究中心 (ed.) 2024 - 出土文獻與古文字教程・導言 (14)

Forms:

𠀁 - Copy of the small seal script form from Shuowen Jiezi.


丄 (U+4E04)

丄¹

Copy of the small seal script form of from Shuowen Jiezi.

丄²

{牡} *mruʔ “male (animal)”

Abstract depiction of a penis.

  • 季旭昇 2002 - 說“牡”“牝”
  • 周忠兵 2006 - 甲骨文中幾個從“丄(牡)”字的考辨



万 (U+4E07)

HanHanHanHanHanHanHanHanHanNanbei
(N.Wei)
Nanbei
(N.Wei)
居新EPF22.11敦555居舊231.116敦2189額2000ES7SF:16A肩73EJT9:136居舊484.2千萬鉤居舊97.1B南0288X魏元崇業墓誌

Shortening of based on the early cursive form. Modern simplified form of in China and Japan.

  • 李洪財 2021 - 俗字演變與探源舉例二則

丈 (U+4E08)

?{杖} *lraŋʔ “cane”

Unknown. Probably depiction of a hand with a cane.

  • 黃德寬 (ed.) 2007 - 古文字譜系疏證 (1822)
  • 林志強 & al. (ed.) 2017 - 《文源》評注 (273)

Forms:

𠀋 - Addition of a decorative dot.


三 (U+4E09)

Shang
(Bin)
Middle
W.Zhou
QinW.HanHanE.HanNanbei
(N.Wei)
合20666集2754嶽二.數97北.荊Z2居舊255.23五.行91元文墓誌

{三} *sˤum “three”

Depiction of three lines.

  • 季旭昇 2014 - 說文新證 [2nd ed.] (51)
  • 裘錫圭 2013 - 文字學概要 [2nd ed.] [2021 form.] (3-5)

上 (U+4E0A)

Shang
(Shi)
Shang
(Bin)
Late
W.Zhou
Chunqiu
(Jin)
Zhanguo
(Qin)
W.HanE.HanNanbei
(N.Wei)
合20024合7428集260.2侯馬92:38
[𫵁]
集證21北.老205五.行359南0147X

{上} *daŋs “up”

Depiction of a short line above a long line. Later a vertical line was added.

  • 季旭昇 2014 - 說文新證 [2nd ed.] (43-45)

Forms:

- Copy of the small seal script form from Shuowen Jiezi.


下 (U+4E0B)

Shang
(Bin)
Late
W.Zhou
Chunqiu
(Chu)
Zhanguo
(Qin)
QinW.HanNanbei
(N.Wei)
合6482正集2836新收490駰乙.背北.白囊北.老40李璧墓誌陽

{下} *ɡrˤaʔ “down”

Depiction of a short line below a long line. Later a vertical line was added.

  • 季旭昇 2014 - 說文新證 [2nd ed.] (47-48)

Forms:

- Copy of the small seal script form from Shuowen Jiezi.



不 (U+4E0D)

?{𩭺/副} *pʰəks “false hair” ♪→ {不} *pə “not”

Probably rotated depiction of hair.

  • 陳世輝 1983 - 釋⿰耑戈——兼說甲骨文不字
  • 徐在國 2016 - 談銅器銘文中的“不”

Forms:

𠀚 - Copy of the small seal script form from Shuowen Jiezi.


与 (U+4E0E)

Shortened form of . Modern simplified form of in China and Japan.

  • Bökset R. 2021 - Long Story of Short Forms: Simplified Chinese Characters from A to Z (354-355)

丏 (U+4E0F)

丏¹

?{丏} *mˤenʔ “to hide”

Unknown.

  • 謝明文 2021 - 釋甲骨文中的“𫤫”及相關諸字——兼論丏、亥係一形分化
  • 季旭昇 2014 - 說文新證 [2nd ed.] (701)

丏²

Alternative form of .



丑 (U+4E11)

?{扭} *nruʔ “to grab” ♪→ {丑} *p.nruʔ “chou (2nd earthy branch)”

Depiction of a hand with bent fingers.

  • 楊澤生 2022 - 論甲骨文的「收」字及相關問題

Forms:

- Alternative form.



专 (U+4E13)

Shortening of based on the cursive form. Modern simplified form of in China.

  • Bökset R. 2021 - Long Story of Short Forms: Simplified Chinese Characters from A to Z (383)

且 (U+4E14)

Shang
(Shi)
Shang
(Wu)
Shang
(Wuming)
Early
W.Zhou
Middle
W.Zhou
QinE.HanNanbei
(N.Wei)
合20045合22053合27374集3991集4288.1陶錄6.441.4熹經237魏元顯儁墓誌

{俎} *tsraʔ “cutting board” ♪→ {且} *tsʰaʔ “also”

Depiction of a cutting board.

  • 季旭昇 2014 - 說文新證 [2nd ed.] (932)
  • 陳劍 2008 - 甲骨金文舊釋“䵼”之字及相關諸字新釋

Forms:

𠀇 𠀃 - Transmitted ancient form. Also, shortened form.


丕 (U+4E15)

{丕} *pʰrə “grand”

*PƏ + decorative stroke.

  • 季旭昇 2014 - 說文新證 [2nd ed.] (41-42)

世 (U+4E16)

{世} *C̥.laps “generation”

Shortened form of .

  • 裘錫圭 2013 - 文字學概要 [2nd ed.] [2021 form.] (165-166)

Forms:

𠀍 - Alternative form.



丘 (U+4E18)

{丘} *kʷʰə “hill”

Depiction of two mountain peaks.

  • 季旭昇 2014 - 說文新證 [2nd ed.] (652-653)

Forms:

𠀌 𠀜 - Copy of the small seal script form from Shuowen Jiezi.

𠀈 - Alternative form.

𠀉 - Shortened (tabooed) form.


丙 (U+4E19)

?{房} *[b]aŋ “cutting board” ♪→ {丙} *praŋʔ “bing (3rd heavenly stem)”

Unknown. Probably depiction of a cutting board.

  • 葛亮 2018 - 古文字“丙”與古器物“房”

业 (U+4E1A)

业¹

Shortening of . Modern simplified form of in China.

  • Bökset R. 2021 - Long Story of Short Forms: Simplified Chinese Characters from A to Z (338)

业²

Copy of the small seal script form of from Shuowen Jiezi.

业³

Alternative form of .


丛 (U+4E1B)

丛¹

{叢} cóng “to gather”

CONG + differentiative stroke. Created for simplifying in China.

  • Bökset R. 2021 - Long Story of Short Forms: Simplified Chinese Characters from A to Z (79-80)

丛²

Copy of the small seal script form of from Shuowen Jiezi.


东 (U+4E1C)

Shortening of based on the cursive form. Modern simplified form of in China.

  • Bökset R. 2021 - Long Story of Short Forms: Simplified Chinese Characters from A to Z (96)

丝 (U+4E1D)

Shortening of based on the cursive form. Modern simplified form of in China.

  • Bökset R. 2021 - Long Story of Short Forms: Simplified Chinese Characters from A to Z (278)

丞 (U+4E1E)

{拯} *təŋʔ “rescue; lift up” / (♪→) {丞} *m.təŋ “assist”

Depiction of pulling a kneeling man () out of the hole () with hands ().

  • 季旭昇 2014 - 說文新證 [2nd ed.] (173-174)


丠 (U+4E20)

丠¹

Copy of the small seal script form of from Shuowen Jiezi.

丠²

Shortening of replacing 異 YI with homophonous 一 YI. Was included in the second round of simplification for .

  • Bökset R. 2021 - Long Story of Short Forms: Simplified Chinese Characters from A to Z (146-147)

両 (U+4E21)

Shortening of based on the semi-cursive form. Modern simplified form of in Japan.

  • Bökset R. 2021 - Long Story of Short Forms: Simplified Chinese Characters from A to Z (194-196)


两 (U+4E24)

Shortening of with deleting the middle vertical line. Modern simplified form of in China.

  • Bökset R. 2021 - Long Story of Short Forms: Simplified Chinese Characters from A to Z (194-196)

严 (U+4E25)

Shortening of based on the cursive form of the upper part with deleting the inner element. Modern simplified form of in China.

  • Bökset R. 2021 - Long Story of Short Forms: Simplified Chinese Characters from A to Z (328)

並 (U+4E26)

{並} *bˤaŋʔ “to stand side by side” → {併} *bˤeŋʔ “to stand side by side; together”

Depiction of two people standing side by side. Later a synonymous word {併} became the main one for this glyph.

  • 季旭昇 2014 - 說文新證 [2nd ed.] (783-784)
  • 裘錫圭 2002 - 讀書札記四則・“秉時養人”之“秉”爲“並”之音近訛字
  • 布之道 2022 - 廣韻形聲考

Forms:

𠀤 - Copy of the small seal script form from Shuowen Jiezi.


丧 (U+4E27)

Shortening of based on the semi-cursive form. Modern simplified form of in China.

  • Bökset R. 2021 - Long Story of Short Forms: Simplified Chinese Characters from A to Z (261)


㐁 (U+3401)

{簟} *lˤimʔ “bamboo mat” ♪→ *{㐁} *C̥.lˤəms “to lick”

Depiction of a mat. The later usage was created for Shuowen Jiezi to explain its form.

  • 季旭昇 2014 - 說文新證 [2nd ed.] (149)

㐂 (U+3402)

Shortening of based on the cursive form.

  • Bökset R. 2021 - Long Story of Short Forms: Simplified Chinese Characters from A to Z (308-309)

𠀀 (U+20000)

{呵} *hɑj “excoriate” ♪→ *{𠀀} *hɑj “non-blocked outgoing air”

Mirrored . Created for Shuowen Jiezi to explain its appearance in glyphs like “to accept”.


𠀁 (U+20001)

𠀁¹

Copy of the small seal script form of from Shuowen Jiezi.

𠀁²

ronz “to reach; to pass” (Bouyei)

Unknown.



𠀃 (U+20003)

𠀃¹

Transmitted ancient form of . Also, shortening of .

𠀃²

Shortening of with deleting the middle vertical lines. Was included in the second round of simplification for .

𠀃³

ningq “penis” (Zhuang)

Abstract depiction of a penis.



𠀅 (U+20005)

𠀅¹

Alternative form of .

𠀅²

eg “wealthy” / geangx “smart” (Bouyei)

Unknown.










𠀎 (U+2000E)

Bottom part of 𠌺 created for describing characters in some classical dictionaries.


𠀏 (U+2000F)

?{𠀏} túnTaiwanese name

Unknown. Probably ♪ TUN + decorative stroke.



𠀑 (U+20011)

Copy of a transmitted ancient form of . One of the Wu Zetian characters.






𠀖 (U+20016)

(khệnh) khạng “in a slow walk with difficulty” (Vietnamese)

Differentiated form of ♪ CUNG/CONG.


𠀗 (U+20017)

khệnh (khạng) “in a slow walk with difficulty” (Vietnamese)

Differentiated form of ♪ CUNG/CONG.






𠀜 (U+2001C)

𠀜¹

Copy of the small seal script form of from Shuowen Jiezi.

𠀜²

Alternative form of .


𠀝 (U+2001D)

{空} kōng “sky”

BELOW (below the heavens) + ABOVE (above the earth).

  • 張涌泉 2000 - 漢語俗字叢考 (4-5)



𠀠 (U+20020)

{箕} *krə “winnowing basket”

Depiction of a winnowing basket.

  • 季旭昇 2014 - 說文新證 [2nd ed.] (376)










𠀪 (U+2002A)

(khề) khà “to have a drunken brawl” (Vietnamese)

Differentiated form of KI.


𠀫 (U+2002B)

khề (khà) “to have a drunken brawl” (Vietnamese)

Differentiated form of KI.


𪛙 (U+2A6D9)

Note 7̣̣ in the Kunshan opera gongche notation.

一 (note 7̣) with a hook.


𬺰 (U+2CEB0)

eda-nasi “without branches” (Japanese)

TREE without bottom diagonal strokes.


𰀀 (U+30000)

{𰀀(子)} zuì(zi) “yoke nail” (Lower Yangtze Mandarin)

Mirrored (with the usage for {釘} “nail”).