義

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (義):
* → Japanese: 義(ぎ) (gi)
* → Korean: 의(義) (ui)
* → Vietnamese: nghĩa (義)

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ŋrals): phonetic 我 (OC *ŋaːlʔ) + semantic 羊. The component 羊 here signifies "good; beautiful; auspicious" and not "sheep". See 祥, 善 and 幸.
Cognate with 儀 (OC *ŋral, “ceremony; appearance”). See there for more.

Han compound

person formally acknowledged as one's father

義父

义父

義兄

义兄

(in compounds) adoptive or formally acknowledged as a relative but not related by blood

(Taiwan) Short for 義大利／义大利 (Yìdàlì, “Italy”).


艇

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *l'eːŋʔ): semantic 舟 (“boat”) + phonetic 廷 (OC *l'eːŋ, *l'eːŋʔ)

Han compound

small boat; dugout; punt (Classifier: 隻／只 c; 架 c)


膝

/t͡sʰiɪk̚³²/

/t͡sʰiɪk̚³²/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *siɡ): semantic ⺼ (“meat, body”) + phonetic 桼 (OC *sʰiɡ) – the knee.
Originally 厀, a phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *siɡ): phonetic 桼 (OC *sʰiɡ) + semantic 卩 (“kneeling person”).
From an *s-prefixed form of Proto-Sino-Tibetan *tsik (“joint”); see there for more (STEDT).

Han compound

膝蓋

膝盖


艦

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (艦):
* → Japanese: 艦(かん) (kan)
* → Korean: 함(艦) (ham)
* → Vietnamese: hạm (艦)

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡraːmʔ): semantic 舟 + phonetic 監 (OC *kraːm, *kraːms).
"Warship (with boards installed on its four sides to defend against arrow attacks)" (Shiming) > "warship" > "ship" (Guangya). A specialised character derived from 檻 (OC *ɡraːmʔ, *ɡraːms, “fence, railing, board”); see there for more on the external etymology.
This character is a classic example of historical misreadings of unfamiliar characters. The l- initial in southern dialects is probably due to confusion with 濫 (MC lamH, “to overflow”), not due to divergent evolutions of the Old Chinese cluster initial *gr- as this character is often cited as an example of. Likewise, the readings in other Chinese are misreadings, although this is more subtle. Expected Mandarin reflex is xiàn, and jiàn is due to confusion with 鑑 (MC kaemH, “mirror; to reflect”). Wu and Eastern Min readings are results of confusion with 檻 (MC haemX, “doorsill”). Despite these irregularities, all the Sinoxenic readings are regular.


芻

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 勹 (“hand”) + 屮 (“grass”), a hand plucking grass.


腓

腓立比書 腓立比書#Chinese

腓立比书 腓立比书#Chinese

(Protestantism) Short for 腓立比書／腓立比书 (Féilìbǐshū, “the book of Philippians”).


臥

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 臣 (“eye pointing down”) + 人 (“person”).

(literary) to live in seclusion; to retreat

(regional) to poach (to cook in boiling water)


腿

/tʰu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴/

/tʰu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *n̥ʰuːlʔ): semantic 肉 (“flesh”) + phonetic 退 (OC *n̥ʰuːbs).
Originally 骽 (OC *n̥ʰuːlʔ).

Han compound

大腿

小腿


致

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *tiɡs): phonetic 至 (OC *tjiɡs) + semantic 攵.

Han compound

致癌

to exhaust; to use up (one's energy, etc.)


肩

Cognate with Proto-Kam-Sui *k-xiːn¹ (“arm”), Proto-Tai *qeːnᴬ (“arm”) (whence Thai แขน (kɛ̌ɛn, “arm”)) (Schuessler, 2007).
Alternatively, possibly from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *k(w/y)an (“shoulder”).


耍

From 傻 (MC srwaeX, “foolish”) (Zhengzhang, 2003).


艚

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *zluː): semantic 舟 (“boat”) + phonetic 曹 (OC *zluː).


航

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡaːŋ): semantic 舟 (“boat”) + phonetic 亢 (OC *kaːŋ, *kʰaːŋs).

Han compound

to sail; to navigate; (of airplane) to fly


膿

→ Proto-Katuic: *pnuŋ (“pus”)

→ Proto-Tai: *ʰnoːŋᴬ (“pus”)

Thai: หนอง (nɔ̌ɔng)

Watch for signs of infection, which are fever, redness, swelling, warmth, increasing pain, pus, or red streaks around the cut area etc.

急救基本知识, Qingdao United Family Hospital (青岛和睦家医院)

Liúyì gǎnrǎn de zhēngzhào, bǐrú fāshāo, fāhóng, zhǒngzhàng, zhuórè, téngtòng jiājù, liú nóng huò gēshāng bùwèi zhōuwéi yǒu hóngsè tiáowén děng.

留意感染的徵兆，比如發燒、發紅、腫脹、灼熱、疼痛加劇、流膿或割傷部位周圍有紅色條紋等。

留意感染的征兆，比如发烧、发红、肿胀、灼热、疼痛加剧、流脓或割伤部位周围有红色条纹等。


臂

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *peɡs): phonetic 辟 (OC *peɡ, *pʰeɡ, *beɡ) + semantic 肉 (“meat; flesh”).
Possibly from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *p-jak (“arm”), whence Lepcha [script needed] (pek), Limbu [script needed] (phuk-bek), Tibetan ཕྱག (phyag, “hand; arm”) (STEDT; Schuessler, 2007).


膏

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kaːw, *kaːws): phonetic 高 (OC *kaːw) + semantic 肉 (“meat”).

Han compound

(historical) fatty tissue located at the tip of the heart


舒

phonetic 舍 (OC *hljaːʔ, *hljaːs) + phonetic 予 (OC *la, *laʔ)
Possibly connected to 紓 (OC *hlja, *ɦljaʔ, “to loosen, relax”).

och-l

Shu Qingchun (real name of the writer Lao She)

舒慶春

舒庆春


芡

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵¹/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡromʔ): semantic 艹 (“grass”) + phonetic 欠 (OC *kʰoms).

Han compound

Euryale ferox
Euryale ferox#Translingual

Euryale ferox, a plant allied to the water lily


腰

→ Proto-Tai: *ˀjeːwᴬ (“waist”)

Lao: ແອວ (ʼǣu)

Northern Thai: ᩋᩯ᩠ᩅ

Tai Dam: ꪵꪮꪫ

Thai: เอว (eeo)

Shan: ဢႅဝ် (ʼěao)

Zhuang: yiu

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *qew): semantic ⺼ (“flesh”) + phonetic 要 (OC *qew, *qews).


胎

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *l̥ʰɯː): semantic ⺼ + phonetic 台 (OC *l̥ʰɯː, *l'ɯː, *l'ɯː, *lɯ).


育

A later alternative form of 毓 (yù). Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *luɡ): semantic 𠫓 (“upside-down baby, being born”) + phonetic 肉 (OC *njuɡ).
See 毓 (yù) for the earlier glyph.
Schuessler, 2007 compares Jingpho [script needed] (lu³¹, “to give birth (to a child)”), based on Zhengzhang's Old Chinese reconstruction; however, Baxter and Sagart's reconstruction makes a connection doubtful. For the B-S reconstruction, note similarities to Burmese မွေး (mwe:, “to give birth, raise”).

cog

Alternative form of 胄 (zhòu, “descendant”)


肆

(financial) Alternative form of 四 (“four”) (used in official documents or checks to avoid forgery)


腎

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡjinʔ): phonetic 臤 (OC *kʰaːn, *kʰriːn, *ɡiːn, *kʰins) + semantic ⺼ (“meat; flesh”) – a body part, the kidneys.
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *m-k(j)un (“kidney”). Cognate with Burmese ကုန်း (kun:, “back”).

Han compound

traditional Chinese medicine
traditional Chinese medicine

腎者之石／肾者之石 [Cantonese] ― san⁵ ze² zi¹ sek⁶ [Jyutping] ― kidney stone

(Hong Kong Cantonese, Internet slang, humorous) Deliberate misspelling of 賢／贤 (xián).


范

→ English: Fan

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *bomʔ): semantic 艸 (“grass”) + phonetic 氾 (OC *pʰoms, *bom).

Han compound

(～縣) Fan County, Fanxian (a county of Puyang, Henan, China)


膩

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *nis): semantic 肉 (“meat”) + phonetic 貳 (OC *njis).

Han compound

(Beijing Mandarin) to stick around, causing others to be fed up


舉

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *klaʔ): phonetic 與 (OC *la, *laʔ, *las) + semantic 手 (“hand”) as 擧／举. The 手 (shǒu) component became 𰀁. Related to 奉.
;lift
;all, whole, entire
;to pawn

Han compound

举
擧
*擧
𦦙
挙
㪯
𡕖
𣁄
𰓉
𥸦
𠃥
𠔖
𠢈
𫽛
𡴃
𢪓
𠦮
𡥳
𤼳
𤼴

to pass the imperial examinations at the provincial level

中舉

中举

imperial examination
imperial examination

(historical) successful candidate in the imperial examination at the provincial level


男

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (男):
* → Japanese: 男(なん) (nan); 男(だん) (dan)
* → Korean: 남(男) (nam)
* → Vietnamese: nam (男)

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 田 (“field”) + 力 (“strength”) – man providing the strength for agricultural and/or other kinds of (physical) labour on a field.
Probably an area word. Compare Proto-Kiranti *nam (“man”), Proto-Monic *k()ɲoom (“young child”), Proto-Wa *h/ʔn[o]m (“young man”), Thai หนุ่ม (nùm, “young man; young”) (Schuessler, 2007).
Wang (1982) connects it to 農 (OC *nuːŋ, “farmer”). Goldin (2021) suggests a connection to 任 (OC *njɯms, “to bear; to be in charge”).

och-l

男人

男孩

Coordinate term: 女

man; (only of human in Standard Chinese) male


羅

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 网 (“net”) + 維 (“bird (tied with string)”) — net for catching birds. The original version is 𦌴.
Perhaps related to Tibetan དྲ (dra, “net”), རྒྱ (rgya, “net; trap”), Tangut 𗙲 (*rer², “net”) (Schuessler, 2007; Hill, 2014; Jacques, 2014).

Han compound

天羅地網

天罗地网


翁

Sino-Xenic (翁):
* → Vietnamese: ông (翁)

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *qloːŋ): phonetic 公 (OC *kloːŋ) + semantic 羽 (“wings”). Originally representing the meaning “feathers”, it was later loaned to mean “old man” and similar senses, by association with the semantic 公.
Possibly Sino-Tibetan. Compare Mizo ung (“to be old, elderly, aged; to be venerable, antique, ancient; to be of long standing, to be an old inhabitant, to be an old stager (v.; adj.)”) (Schuessler, 2007).
Baxter & Sagart (2017) included 翁 (OC *qˤoŋ) "old man" in the same word-family as 公 (OC *C.qˤoŋ) "father, prince" and 妐 (OC *t-qoŋ) "husband's father".

cog

翁仔某


菏

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kaːl, *ɡaːl): semantic 艸 (“grass; plant”) + phonetic 河 (OC *ɡaːl).

Han compound

name of a river in Shandong province, China


荏

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *njɯmʔ): semantic 艹 + phonetic 任 (OC *njɯm, *njɯms).
; “a kind of big bean”
; “soft; weak”
: Possibly related to 飪 (OC *njɯmʔ, “cooked”), 腍 (OC *njɯmʔ, “cooked; delicious”) (Schuessler, 2007).
: Older theories compare the word with 柔 (OC *mlju, “soft”) (STEDT).

Han compound

Perilla frutescens
Perilla frutescens#Translingual


肚

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ʔl'aːʔ, *l'aːʔ): semantic ⺼ + phonetic 土 (OC *l̥ʰaːʔ, *l'aːʔ).
A post-classical word. Compare Proto-Sino-Tibetan *l-tjwa (“mouth; beak; food; stomach”), whence Tibetan ལྟོ་བ (lto ba, “stomach; belly”) (STEDT). Compare also Proto-Tai *dwuːŋꟲ (“belly”) (whence Thai ท้อง (tɔ́ɔng)) and Proto-Kam-Sui *luŋ² (“stomach”), as Middle Chinese shangsheng corresponds to foreign -ŋ in some words (Schuessler, 2007).
Some dialects have different pronunciations for the two senses, "abdomen; belly (of a human)" and "stomach (of an animal)", derived from two different readings in Middle Chinese that differed in the voicing of the initial consonant.
* In Mandarin, the pronunciation for the former sense derives from the 徒古切 reading in Middle Chinese (i.e. the reading with voiced initial /d/) and the pronunciation for the latter sense derives from the 當古切 (i.e. the reading with voiceless initial /t/) reading.
* In Min Nan, the pronunciation for the former sense derives from the 當古切 reading and the pronunciation for latter sense derives from the 徒古切 reading.
* Cantonese uses the same pronunciation for both senses, derived from the 徒古切 reading.
* Hakka also uses the same pronunciation for both senses, but it is instead derived from the 當古切 reading.

cog

肚子


肚

跤後肚

跤后肚


菇

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声): semantic 艸 + phonetic 姑 (OC *kaː).


膜

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *maː, *maːɡ): semantic ⺼ + phonetic 莫 (OC *maːɡ).


舵

Guangyun
Mainland Southeast Asia linguistic area
Shiming

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *l'aːlʔ): semantic 舟 (“boat”) + phonetic 它 (OC *l̥ʰaːl).
Attested late, in Shiming as 柂 and Guangyun as 舵.
Shiming connects it to 拖 (OC *l̥ˤaj, “to drag, to pull, to haul”). Meanwhile, Schuessler (2007) considers it an areal word; compare Vietnamese lái (“to drive (a wheeled vehicle), to steer (a vessel), etc.”) and Thai ท้าย (táai, “stern; back; rear end”).


舟

Pictogram (象形) – a boat. It appears in the shape of 月 in 前.
According to Schuessler (2007), a loan from Proto-Mon-Khmer *ɗuuk ~ *ɗuk (“boat, canoe”), whence Khmer ទូក (tuuk) and Vietnamese nốc (< Proto-Vietic *ɗoːk (“boat”)). Foreign closed syllables having a long main vowel often correspond to open syllables in Old Chinese.
Possibly cognate of 輈 (OC *tɯw, “trunk, pole”) (Schuessler, 2007).
Yang Xiong's Fangyan says that Old Chinese 舟 (OC *tjɯw) is common in central and eastern China, while its synonym 船 (OC *ɦljon) is used in western China.


芯

Juncus effusus
Juncus effusus#Translingual

pith from the common rush (Juncus effusus), used as lamp wick


芽

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ŋraː): semantic 艹 (“grass”) + phonetic 牙 (OC *ŋraː).
Cognate with 牙 (OC *ŋraː, “tooth”) (Schuessler, 2007).


脫

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (脫):
* → Vietnamese: thoát (脫)

→ Ahom: 𑜌𑜨𑜄𑜫 (thot)

→ Lao: ຖອດ (thǭt)

desc

→ Lü: ᦏᦸᧆᧈ (ṫhoad¹)

→ Lü: ᦏᦸᧆᧈ (ṫhoad¹)

→ Northern Thai: ᨳᩬᨯ

→ Tai Dón: ꪖꪮꪒ

→ Tai Nüa: ᥗᥨᥖᥱ (thǒt)

→ Thai: ถอด (tɔ̀ɔt)

→ Shan: ထွတ်ႇ (thàut)

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *l̥ʰoːd, *l'oːd): semantic ⺼ + phonetic 兌 (OC *l'oːds).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *g/s-lwat (“free; release; slip; dislocate”) (STEDT; Schuessler, 2007).
:Within Chinese, cognate with 蛻 (OC *l̥ʰoːds, “exuviae (skin cast off during molting)”), 愉 (OC *lo, “relax > happy, pleased”), 悅 (OC lod, “contented”), 說 (OC *hljod, “to speak, to explain”), 說 (OC *hljods, “to persuade”), 偷 (OC *l̥ʰoː, “to steal”), 奪 (OC *Cə.lˁot, “to rob, to snatch”);
:Outside Chinese, cognate with Tibetan གློད་པ (glod pa, “loosen, relax, slacken”), Tibetan ཧློད་པ (hlod pa, “loose, relaxed”), Lepcha ᰒᰤᰦᰳ (flját), ᰒᰤᰩᰳ (fljót), Burmese လွှတ် (hlwat), Burmese ချွတ် (hkywat).
In its use in Northern Wu languages, such as Shanghainese, Suzhounese, and Ningbonese, as well as Lower Yangtze Mandarin, it is likely from a grammaticalisation of the verb. Compare with 落 (Wuxi, Changzhou) and 掉 (Haining, Danyang)

cog

to take off (clothes); to peel off; to strip

(Xiamen and Quanzhou Hokkien) to collapse; to pass out; to fall in a faint

Kasim Tuet (Chinese-born Hong Kong entrepreneur)

脫維善

脱维善


芥

→ Proto-Tai: *kaːtᴰ (“mustard greens”)

desc

Proto-Southwestern Tai: *kaːtᴰ (“mustard greens”)

Lao: ກາດ (kāt)

Shan: ၵၢတ်ႇ (kàat)

Thai: กาด (gàat)

Book of Rites
Eastern Han Chinese
Zuo zhuan

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kreːds): semantic 艸 (“grass, plant”) + phonetic 介 (OC *kreːds) – a type of plant.
The meaning "mustard green" is attested earliest in the Book of Rites; "small grass" in Zuo zhuan (Ai 1).
Schuessler (2007) compares it to Middle Korean 갓 (kas), Proto-Southwestern Tai *ka:tᴰ (> Thai กาด (gàat), Lao ກາດ (kāt), Shan ၵၢတ်ႇ (kàat)), Proto-Vietic *kaːs (> Vietnamese cải, Muong cái, & Thavung kajh¹). However, all those foreign items might have been loaned from Late Old Chinese or Eastern Han Chinese (as proposed by Pittayaporn for *ka:tᴰ),

Han compound

Mince was made in spring, with onions; in autumn, with the mustard plant.

The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

膾：春用蔥，秋用芥。

脍：春用葱，秋用芥。

Brassica juncea
Brassica juncea#Translingual


者

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (者):
* → Japanese: 者(しゃ) (sha)
* → Korean: 자(者) (ja)
* → Vietnamese: giả (者)

Pictogram (象形) – a sugarcane with full stems, with some points around (either leaves or drops of sweet liquid) and an open and smiling mouth at the bottom. This is the original character for either 蔗 (OC *tjaːɡs, “sugarcane”) or 煮 (OC *tjaʔ, “to boil”). Phonetically loaned for abstract meanings.
Top component 耂 is unrelated to 老, 考, and 孝.
The variant form with an additional 丶 stroke below 耂 is influenced by Shuowen, which considered 白 as the bottom component of 者.
; one who, -er, nominalizing suffix
Etymologically related to 之 (OC *tjɯ, “nominalizing, possessive particle”) and perhaps colloquial 的 (Pulleyblank, 1995).

och-l

者
⿱土⿸丿日
⿱圡⿸丿日


聲

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (聲):
* → Japanese: 声(しょう) (shō); 声(せい) (sei)
* → Korean: 성(聲) (seong)
* → Vietnamese: thanh (聲)

→ Thai: เสียง (sǐiang)

desc

→ Vietnamese: tiếng (“voice; language; sound”)

→ Zhuang: sing

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *qʰjeŋ): phonetic 殸 (OC *kʰreːŋ, *kʰeːŋs) + semantic 耳 (“ear”).

Han compound

億億聲／亿亿声 [Cantonese] ― jik¹ jik¹ seng¹ [Jyutping] ― in the magnitudes of hundreds of millions

(Cantonese) Suffix used after large numerals to express the magnitude of a number.


舊

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯əu̯²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯əu̯⁴⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯əu̯²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯əu̯⁴⁵/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡʷɯs): semantic 雈 (“owl”) + phonetic 臼 (OC *ɡuʔ).
Originally refers to a type of owl; later borrowed for a homophonous word meaning "old." The upper portion frequently appears as 萑 (a type of grass).
Possibly from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *(g/k)əw-n (“elder brother; senior male relative”), which is also compared to 舅 (OC *ɡuʔ, “maternal uncle”), 昆 (OC *kuːn, “elder brother”) (Sagart, 1999; STEDT).
Baxter and Sagart (2014) compares it to 久 (OC *[k]ʷəʔ). See there for more.

inh

舊熱河省

旧热河省


荽

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *snul): semantic 艹 (“grass; plant”) + phonetic 妥 (OC *n̥ʰoːlʔ).

Han compound

Only used in 胡荽 (húsuī) and 芫荽 (yánsuī).


芹

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡɯn): semantic 艹 + phonetic 斤 (OC *kɯn, *kɯns).

Han compound

Apium graveolens
Apium graveolens#Translingual


臍

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *zliːl): semantic 肉 (“meat; flesh”) + phonetic 齊 (OC *zliːl, *zliːls).
Probably from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-taj (“navel; abdomen; centre; self”) (Weidert, 1987; Schuessler, 2007), with metathesis of *s-t- > *dz- (STEDT). Cognate with Tibetan ལྟེ (lte, “navel”), Chepang तोय् (“navel”), and more distantly, Burmese လယ် (lai, “center, middle”).

inh

露臍裝／露脐装


荔

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *reːbs, *rebs): semantic 艸 + phonetic 劦 (OC *ɦleːb).

Han compound

Alternative name for 馬藺／马蔺 (“Iris lactea”).


罷

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 网 + 能 - catch a bear with a web. According to Shuowen Jiezi, it originally means "catch criminals"; according to Zhang Shunhui (張舜徽), it means "tired" with a reference to a bear being caught while tired after a chase. The web at the top of the character is well visible in its original version 𦋼.
Likely cognate with Proto-Lolo-Burmese *N-bri¹/² (“full, complete”), whence Burmese ပြီ (pri, “to finish”) (STEDT).

cog

(Wenzhounese) Used at the end of a sentence to indicate a change of state or the beginning of an action.


芭

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *praː): semantic 艹 (“grass”) + phonetic 巴 (OC *praː).


舅

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯əu̯²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯əu̯⁴⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯əu̯²¹/

/t͡ɕi̯əu̯⁴⁵/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡuʔ): phonetic 臼 (OC *ɡuʔ) + semantic 男 (“male; man”).
Possibly from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *(g/k)əw-n (“elder brother; senior male relative”); compare Tibetan ཨ་ཁུ (a khu), ཁུ་བོ (khu bo, “father's brother”), Burmese အစ်ကို (ackui, “elder brother”) (Sagart, 2017d; STEDT). Possibly related to 舊 (OC *ɡʷɯs, “old; ancient”), 昆 (OC *kuːn, “elder brother”) (Sagart, 1999; STEDT); see there for more.

Han compound

> - mother's elder brother; < - mother's younger brother; >< - face-to-face; <> - non-face-to-face

Koelreuteria elegans, a tree that resembles Melia azedarach (苦楝)

苦楝舅

Gamochaeta purpureum, a herb that resembles Pseudognaphalium affine (鼠麴草)

鼠麴舅

鼠曲舅

Neonauclea reticulata, a tree that resembles Terminalia catappa (欖仁)

欖仁舅

榄仁舅

(Taiwan, biology) used in species names to indicate naming after a similar species


聞

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *mɯn, *mɯns): phonetic 門 (OC *mɯːn) + semantic 耳 (“ear”). Compare 問 (OC *mɯns).
Probably derived from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *m/s-nam (“to smell”), whence Tibetan མནམ་པ (mnam pa, “to smell of”), Tibetan སྣོམ་པ (snom pa, “to smell”), Jingpho manam (mə³¹ nam⁵⁵, “smell”), Burmese နမ် (nam, “to smell”), Burmese နံ (nam, “to stink”) (Schuessler, 2007). The inversion of n and m in Chinese is the result of labial dissimilation or prefix-preemption.
In almost all major Tibeto-Burman languages, this etymon means only "to smell". One or other factors may
help explain the application of "to hear" in Chinese. The semantic affinities of hear ~ smell have a parallel in Tibeto-Burman *na "ear ~ nose" and hence perhaps in Sino-Tibetan (see *r/g-na (“ear”)). The Chinese stem may have converged with a Mon-Khmer etymon (cf. Proto-Monic *smaaɲ (“to inquire”) (ibid.). Also note Tibetan མཉན་པ (mnyan pa, “to listen to; to hear”) which is phonologically quite close to Chinese.
Pronunciation 2 ("be heard about; renowned; fame") is a derivation of pronunciation 1, with passive suffix *-s (ibid.).
問 (OC *mɯns, “to ask”) is the exoactive derivation of pronunciation 1 with suffix *-s, literally "let (me) hear" (ibid.).

cog

GT - General Taiwanese (no specific region identified)

聞一多

闻一多


腳

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kaɡ): semantic ⺼ (“meat, body”) + phonetic 卻 (OC *kaɡ, *kʰaɡ) – part of the body, the foot or leg.
Etymology not clear (Schuessler, 2007). Unrelated to Min 跤.

Han compound

飯腳／饭脚 [Cantonese] ― faan⁶ goek³ [Jyutping] ― person who dines out with one

to not have enough people for playing mahjong

打牌唔夠腳

打牌唔够脚

(Cantonese) person who joins an activity


肝

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kaːn): semantic ⺼ (“flesh”) + phonetic 干 (OC *kaːn) – a body part.
Probably from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *b-ka-(n/m/ŋ) (“bitter; salty; bile; liver”), in which case it would be related to 苦 (OC *kʰaːʔ, *kʰaːs, “bitter”); also compare Proto-Bodo-Garo *bi-ka (“liver”), whence Bodo (India) [script needed] (bi-ka, “liver”), Garo bika (“liver”).
Alternatively, Schuessler (2007) compares it with Proto-Sino-Tibetan *m-kal ~ *s-gal (“lower back; kidney”), whence Tibetan མཁལ་མ (mkhal ma, “kidney”), Mizo kal (“kidney”), Chepang गल् (“kidney”), Burmese ခါး (hka:, “waist”).


菁

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ʔsleŋ): semantic 艸 (“grass”) + phonetic 青 (OC *sʰleːŋ)


芫

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ŋon): semantic 艸 (“grass; plant”) + phonetic 元 (OC *ŋon).

Han compound

Daphne genkwa
Daphne genkwa#Translingual

(～花) Daphne genkwa (a herb used in traditional Chinese medicine)


膠

→ Burmese: ကော် (kau)

→ Khmer: កាវ (kaaw)

→ Lao: ກາວ (kāo)

→ Thai: กาว (gaao)

→ Vietnamese: keo (non-Sino-Vietnamese)

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *krɯːw, *krɯːws, *kʰrɯːw): semantic ⺼ (“meat; flesh”) + phonetic 翏 (OC *ɡ·rɯːw, *ɡ·rɯws).

Han compound

Short for 膠澳／胶澳. (former name of 青島／青岛 (Qīngdǎo))


荊

Table of General Standard Chinese Characters

; "shrub; alternative name of Chu"
; "(humble) my wife; poor"

to offer someone a humble apology, requesting punishment and forgiveness

負荊請罪

负荆请罪

(historical) rod for flogging made of chaste tree twigs

Short for 荊山／荆山 (Jīng Shān, “Mount Jing”).

Alternative name for 楚 (chǔ, “the state of Chu in ancient China”).


菱

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *rɯŋ): semantic 艸 (“grass; plant”) + phonetic 夌 (OC *rɯŋ).

Han compound

water caltrop; water chestnut (Trapa natans)


腹

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *puɡ): semantic 肉 (“meat; flesh”) + phonetic 复 (OC *buɡ) – a part of the body.
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *d-puːk (“belly; vitals; hollow object; cave”); cognate with 𥨍 (“cave”), Tibetan ཕུགས (phugs, “innermost parts”), Burmese ဗိုက် (buik, “belly; pregnancy”), အပေါက် (a.pauk, “hole”), Chepang तुक् (“belly; stomach”), Proto-Bodo-Garo *bi(ʔ)-buk (“guts”), Cogtse Situ [Term?] (tə-pōk, “belly”), Brag-bar Situ [Term?] (tə-vōk, “belly”), Proto-Tani *puk (“heart”) (STEDT; Schuessler, 2007; Zhang, Jacques, and Lai, 2019).
Also compare Austroasiatic words: Proto-Mon-Khmer *bo()k (“belly”), Khmer ពោះ (pŭəh, “belly”), Vietnamese bụng (“belly”)(Shorto, 2006; Schuessler, 2007).


胡

→ English: Hu, Hoo, Wu, Woo, Oh

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡaː): phonetic 古 (OC *kaːʔ) + semantic ⺼.
; "dewlap"
; "steppe nomads"
; interrogative word ("what; why; how")

阿胡拉·馬茲達

Āhúlā Mǎzīdá

阿胡拉·马兹达

Āhúlā Mǎzīdá

Simplified Chinese is mainly used in Mainland China

Traditional Chinese is mainly used in Hong Kong

(historical) countries and peoples in the Western Regions, including Persia, Daqin, and in Pre-Tang texts, India


而

Characters in the same phonetic series (而) (Zhengzhang, 2003)
Pictogram (象形) – a beard. Original form of 耏 (OC *nɯːs, *njɯ) or 髵 (OC *njɯ). See also 冄.
; "you; your"
; "then", "and"

Han etyl

to fail to understand (literally, "to be unable to enter by finding the gate")

不得其門而入

不得其门而入

[I would] bathe in the Yi, enjoy the breeze among the rain altars, and return home singing.

The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

浴乎沂，風乎舞雩，詠而歸。

浴乎沂，风乎舞雩，咏而归。

If there were one who did not find pleasure in killing men, all the people in the nation would look towards him with outstretched necks.

Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Rú yǒu bùshì shārén zhě, zé tiānxià zhī mín jiē yǐnlǐng ér wàng zhī yǐ.

如有不嗜殺人者，則天下之民皆引領而望之矣。

如有不嗜杀人者，则天下之民皆引领而望之矣。

particle between adverbial element and verb to indicate cause, purpose, or manner

particle between two verbs or verb phrases indicating that the first is used adverbially

If a man observe no rules of propriety,
Why does he not quickly die?

The Classic of Poetry, c. 11ᵗʰ – 7ᵗʰ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

人而無禮，胡不遄死？

人而无礼，胡不遄死？

Were Yan Ying alive, even if I were to be a coachman for him, there shall be where my joy and admiration lie.

The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE

Jiǎlìng Yànzǐ ér zài, yú suī wèizhī zhíbiān, suǒ xīnmù yān.

假令晏子而在，余雖爲之執鞭，所忻慕焉。

假令晏子而在，余虽为之执鞭，所忻慕焉。

modal particle indicating hypothetical condition

All of those three worthy men were heroes among humble commoners who, having not even released their wrath, saw omens auspicious to their heroic deeds and ruinous to their opponents dispatched by Heaven. Now, with me, there is about to be a fourth.

Zhanguo Ce, circa 5ᵗʰ – 3ʳᵈ centuries BCE

Cǐ sān zǐ zhě, jiē bùyī zhī shì yě; huái nù wèi fā, xiū jìn jiàng yú tiān, yǔ chén ér jiāng sì yǐ.

此三子者，皆布衣之士也；懷怒未發，休祲降於天，與臣而將四矣。

此三子者，皆布衣之士也；怀怒未发，休祲降于天，与臣而将四矣。

modal particle indicating tendency or immediate action


臨

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意) and phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *b·rɯm, *b·rɯms): semantic 臣 (“eye”) + semantic 人 (“person”) + phonetic 品 (OC *pʰrɯmʔ, “objects”) – a person looking down at some objects.
Alternatively analyzed as a phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *b·rɯm, *b·rɯms): semantic 臥 + phonetic 品 (OC *pʰrɯmʔ).

Han compound

临
𦣲
𦣷
瀶
临
凜
斂


腦

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (腦):
* → Japanese: 脳(のう) (nō)
* → Korean: 뇌(腦) (noe)
* → Vietnamese: não (腦)

Originally 匘, an ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 匕 + 巛 (“hair”) + 囟 (“head; fontanel”). 匕 was later replaced with 肉 (“flesh”).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-nəw-k. Cognate with Burmese ဦးနှောက် (u:hnauk), Nuosu ꀑꆊ (o not, “brain”), Jingpho nu' (“brain”), Drung unu (“brain; mind”), Japhug tɯrnoʁ, S'gaw Karen ခိၣ်နူာ် (khoh̀noọ, “brain”).

cog

(Hong Kong Cantonese) Short for 電腦／电脑 (din⁶ nou⁵, “computer”). (Classifier: 部 c)


苗

/mi̯aʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

/mi̯aʊ̯ɻʷ³⁵/

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 艸 (“grass”) + 田 (“field”).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *(m/b)rəw (“grain; seed; lineage”) (STEDT); see 物 (OC *mɯd, “thing, matter, substance”) for more cognates.

inh

卡介苗

苗語

苗语

苗繡

苗绣

the Miao peoples (including Hmong, Hmu, A-Hmao, Qo Xiong, etc.)

Miu Tsui-fa (mother of fictional martial artist Fong Sai-yuk)

苗翠花


般

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 舟 (“boat”) + 殳 (“rotate”).

ncog

Ancient Greek τρόπος (trópos, “turn, way, manner”)


般

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *bran (“to convalesce, recover, return”). Cognate with Burmese ပြန် (pran, “to go back, return; to translate”) (STEDT).


苟

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *koːʔ): semantic 艹 + phonetic 句 (OC *koː, *koːs, *kos, *ɡo) – a kind of grass, in original sense.

Han compound

For the time being, I did what I could to survive the chaotic times, and never wished to become eminent among the nobles.

227, 諸葛亮 (Zhūgě Liàng) (Zhuge Liang), 出師表

Gǒuquán xìngmìng yú luànshì, bù qiú wèndá yú zhūhóu.

苟全性命於亂世，不求聞達於諸侯。

苟全性命于乱世，不求闻达于诸侯。


茂

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *mus): semantic 艸 (“grass”) + phonetic 戊 (OC *mus).
Applying this character to mean “cyclopentadiene” in organic chemistry results from the decomposition of the character as an ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 艸 (“radical for aromatic compounds”) + 戊 (“five-carbon ring”), since the conjugate base of cyclopentadiene (cyclopentadienyl anion) is aromatic.

Han compound

二茂鐵

二茂铁


種

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *tjoŋʔ, *tjoŋs): semantic 禾 + phonetic 重 (OC *doŋ, *doŋʔ, *doŋs).
Perhaps Sino-Tibetan: Chepang [script needed] (tuŋʔ-, “to plant”), दुङ् (duŋ, “shoot; sprout”), दुङ्सा (duŋ-, “to sprout; to grow”). Compare 腫 (OC *tjoŋʔ, “to swell”) and 踵 (OC *tjoŋʔ, “heel”).
Related to Proto-Vietic *k-coːŋʔ (“seed”) (Vietnamese giống (“seed”)), which is likely a loanword from Chinese (Wang, 1948).
Pronunciation 2 (“to sow; to plant”) is the exoactive derivation of pronunciation 1 (“seed”).

cog

种
穜
𥡰
𥢖
𥻝
𦔉
𥠭


芳

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *pʰaŋ): semantic 艸 (“grass”) + phonetic 方 (OC *paŋ, *baŋ)

Han compound

Quán yǒngtuān yú shí jiān xī, jú yáng fāng yú yáshì.

泉湧湍於石間兮，菊揚芳於崖澨。

泉涌湍于石间兮，菊扬芳于崖澨。


臣

Characters in the same phonetic series (臣) (Zhengzhang, 2003)
Pictogram (象形) – A vertical eye of a man looking downwards. As an individual character it has taken on the meanings “slave; servant; minister”, while the meaning relating to eyes appears when used as a radical, such as in 臨 (“to look down at”) and 監 (“to inspect”).
Compare 目. Unrelated to 𦣞.
In Old Chinese, nominalization with nasal suffix of the verb 視 (OC *ɡljilʔ, *ɡljils, *ɢljils, “to watch”), hence literally "watcher; supervisor" (Schuessler 2007). In the archaic language of the Shang oracle bones (late second millennium BCE), this word referred to "royal officers, many of whose individual names were recorded, who served in the royal court, received the king's orders to launch military expeditions and other tasks, and received royal gifts" (Keightley 2012).

och-l

Should Your Majesty rely on the multitude of your subjects and depend on the strength of your weapons, making use of the might with which you laid waste to Wei, with a desire to subjugate the lords of the world by brute force, your servant fears that there may be trouble later on.

Wáng ruò fù réntú zhī zhòng, zhàng bīnggé zhī qiáng, chéng huǐ Wèi zhī wēi, ér yù yǐ lì chén tiānxià zhī zhǔ, chén kǒng qí yǒu hòuhuàn yě.

王若負人徒之眾，仗兵革之彊，乘毀魏之威，而欲以力臣天下之主，臣恐其有後患也。

王若负人徒之众，仗兵革之强，乘毁魏之威，而欲以力臣天下之主，臣恐其有后患也。

Through the five or six years after 1592, the enemy have not dared directly attack Jeolla and Chungcheong because our fleet guarded their route. Your servant still has twelve battleships today. If we defend with our dying strength, it can still be done.

Admiral Yi Sun-sin, 1597, quoted in《李忠武公全書》 (Collected Works of Yi, Duke of Loyalty and Martiality), 1795

자 임진^((으로)) 지우 오륙년 간^((에)) 적^((이)) 불감직돌어양호자^((는)) 이주사지액기로야^((니이다).) 금 신 전선^((이)) 상유십이^((하니)) 출사력거전^((이면)) 즉 유가위야^((니이다).)
Ja Imjin[-euro] jiu o ryuk nyeon gan[-e], jeog[-i] bulgam jik dol eo Yangho ja[-neun], i jusa ji aek gi ro ya[-niida]. Geum sin jeonseon[-i] sang yu sibi[-hani], chul saryeok geojeon[-imyeon], jeuk yu ga wi ya[-niida].

自壬辰至于五六年間，賊不敢直突於兩湖者，以舟師之扼其路也。今臣戰船尙有十二，出死力拒戰，則猶可爲也。

(humble, historical or archaic) I, me; your servant (humble pronoun, especially when speaking to a monarch)


荒

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *hmaːŋ, *hmaːŋs): semantic 艹 (“grass, plant”) + phonetic 巟 (OC *hmaːŋ).
Note: The middle part could be found as 亾 instead of 亡.
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ma (“not”). Cognate with 亡 (OC *maŋ, “to disappear”). The voiceless initial is possibly from the devoicing effect of an early (i.e. Proto-Sino-Tibetan) causative prefix *s- on 亡 (i.e. PST *s-maŋ > *hmaŋ > Middle Chinese hwɑŋ) which was subsequently lost.


舞

→ Vietnamese: múa

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *maʔ): abbreviated phonetic 無 (OC *ma) + semantic 舛 (“steps, feet in convergent direction”). This character was coined to preserve the original meaning of 無, which is "dancing"; hence, the upper component also adds part of the meaning. A conservative variant is 𦨅.
Perhaps related to Tibetan བྲོ (bro, “dance (noun)”), or related to 巫 (OC *ma, “shaman”) (Schuessler, 2007).

Han compound

芭蕾舞

中國舞／中国舞 ― Zhōngguó wǔ ― Chinese dance

跳一個舞／跳一个舞

dance (performance art); dancing (Classifier: 個／个 m; 支 m)


茲

Cognate with 載 (OC *ʔslɯːʔ, “year”), 再 (OC *ʔsɯːs, “twice”), 薦 (OC *ʔseːns, “repeatedly”), 洊 (OC *zlɯːns, “again; repeatedly”), 荐 (OC *zlɯːns, “repeatedly”) (Schuessler, 2007).

阿胡拉·馬茲達

Āhúlā Mǎzīdá

阿胡拉·马兹达

Āhúlā Mǎzīdá


葩

Possibly from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *baːr (“bloom, flower”); compare Burmese ပန်း (pan:) or Zaiwa pan²¹, as well as 疤 (OC *praː, “scar, cicatrix”). Probably the same etymon as 瓣 (OC *breːns, “petal”) (Schusessler, 2007).

inh

(Southern Min) Classifier for things that are strung together.


芋

Mainland Southeast Asian linguistic area

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɢʷa, *ɢʷas): semantic 艸 (“grass; plant”) + phonetic 于 (OC *ɢʷa) – taro.
Unclear. Shuowen suggests that the word arises from the startling size of the taro, leading Kai Xu to connect it to 吁 (OC *qʰʷa), which is the sound that one makes when one is startled. However, this seems to be folk etymology.
Compare Proto-Hmong-Mien *wouH (“taro”), Burmese ဝ (wa., “elephant foot yam”), Tibetan གྲོ་མ (gro ma, “Argentina anserina (syn. Potentilla anserina), a plant with small edible tubers”). There are various theories on how all these words are related:
* Schuessler (2007) considers it to be an areal word, comparing it to the Hmong-Mien and Burmese words. Schuessler (2015) does not consider the Tibetan word to be cognate.
* Blench (2012) suggests that the Chinese word is borrowed from Proto-Hmong-Mien and that the Burmese word may be a late loan from Old Chinese.
* STEDT reconstructs Proto-Sino-Tibetan *g/s-rwa (“taro; yam; tuber”), whence the Tibetan word. This etymon is regarded as allofamically related this word and 薯 (OC *djas).
* Gong Hwang-cherng (2002) and Baxter and Sagart (2017) also suggest that this word is related to the Tibetan word.


董

→ English: Dong, Tung, Tang

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *toːŋʔ): semantic 艸 (“grass”) + phonetic 重 (OC *doŋ, *doŋʔ, *doŋs).

Han compound

董卓


臉

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡ·reːmʔ, *skʰlam, *kramʔ): semantic ⺼ (“body part”) + phonetic 僉 (OC *skʰlam).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-gram (“cheek; face”). Cognate with Tibetan འགྲམ་པ ('gram pa, “cheek”), འགྲམ་རུས ('gram rus, “cheekbone”) (Schuessler, 2007).

inh

賞臉／赏脸

丟臉／丢脸

沒臉見人／没脸见人


莊

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑ̃ɻ⁵⁵/

/t͡szʷæ̃³³⁴/

/ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑ̃ɻ⁵⁵/

/t͡szʷæ̃³³⁴/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ʔsraŋ): semantic 艸 + phonetic 壯 (OC *ʔsraŋs).

Han compound

(Hong Kong Cantonese, university slang) student association; student union (Classifier: 支 c)


蓄

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *l̥ʰuɡ, *hluɡ): semantic 艹 (“grass, plant”) + phonetic 畜 (OC *l̥ʰuɡs, *l̥ʰuɡ, *hluɡ) – to cultivate plants, to store grain, to save.

Han compound

⿰忄蓄
稸
⿰禾蓄
⿱䒑畜
⿳⻀玆田
⿱𬝘田
𦿤
𧁖
𧁃

to store up; to stockpile; to accumulate; to hoard

(literary, or in compounds) to harbour; to keep in mind; to cherish

(literary, or in compounds) preserved, dried cabbage or mustard greens


蔗

/t͡siɛ²¹⁻²¹⁵/

/t͡siɛ²¹⁻²¹⁵/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *tjaːɡs): semantic 艹 + phonetic 庶 (OC *hljaɡs).
See 藷蔗／薯蔗 (zhūzhè).

zh-l

藷蔗／薯蔗 (zhūzhè)


薅

茠
𢫩
𢬺
𣐾
䒵
𦵢
𦼸
𢴅


背

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *pɯːɡs, *bɯːɡs): phonetic 北 (OC *pɯːɡ) + semantic 月 (“meat”). Originally written as 北, semantic 肉 was added to be distinguished from the derived meaning of 北 (“north”).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ba (“to carry (on back), shoulder”).
Two pronunciations were distinguished in Middle Chinese: puʌiᴴ (“back”), buʌiᴴ (“to turn one's back to; to betray”).


耳

Characters in the same phonetic series (耳) (Zhengzhang, 2003)
Pictogram (象形) – an ear.
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *r/g-na (“ear”).


肉

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (肉):
* → Japanese: 肉(にく) (niku)
* → Korean: 육(肉) (yuk)
* → Vietnamese: nhục (肉)

/ᵑɡɵk̚³²⁻²¹/

/d͡ziɔk̚¹²¹/

/ᵑɡɵk̚³²⁻²¹/

/d͡ziɔk̚¹²¹/

Characters in the same phonetic series (肉) (Zhengzhang, 2003)
Pictogram (象形) – ribs of an animal’s torso or simply a physical representation of a slice of meat. Stylized into 月 when next to a phonetic component and 𱼀 and/or 夕 inside some characters.
Probably from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *now (“tender; soft”), which has also been compared to 柔 (OC *mlju, “soft; flexible”), 揉 (OC *mju, “to knead”), 軟 (OC *njonʔ, “soft”), 弱 (OC *njewɢ, “weak”), 懦 (OC *noːls, *njo, “cowardly”), 荏 (OC *njɯmʔ, “weak”) (STEDT; Schuessler, 2007). Alternatively, it may be from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-nja-k (“meat, flesh”) (STEDT).
; "media"

inh

宍
𥤬
𠕜
𡧢
𠕎
𮌇
脈
𬁲

生肉

熟肉

烤肉

localized, subbed, or dubbed media, with detailed effects


美

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (美):
* → Japanese: 美(み) (mi); 美(び) (bi)
* → Korean: 미(美) (mi)
* → Vietnamese: mĩ (美)

Pictogram (象形) – a person (大) wearing a headdress (now written 羊) of feathers or ram's horn.
The modern form could be considered an ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 羊 (“ram or feathers”) + 大 (“person”).
See also 敖, 冒, and 免.
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *mwaj (“beautiful, well, perfectly”) (STEDT).
According to Schuessler (2007), cognate with Mizo mawi (“beautiful, lovely”), Jingpho moi (“perfectly, beautifully”) as well as Karbi me- (“be good”) and Jingpho cha mai (“good”); the former two items from *moy "beautiful" and the latter from *may "good, well", which were two roots reconstructed separately by Benedict (1972).

der

美籍華人

美籍华人

中美關係

中美关系

美屬薩摩亞

美属萨摩亚

Short for 美國／美国 (Měiguó, “United States of America”).

United States of America
United States of America


臺

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (臺):
* → Japanese: 台(だい) (dai)
* → Korean: 대(臺) (dae)
* → Vietnamese: đài (臺)

Bamboo_and_wooden_slips
Chu_(state)
Han dynasty
Jin (Chinese state)
Oracle bone inscriptions
Qin
Shuowen Jiezi
Shuowen Jiezi Zhu
seal script

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): abbreviated 喬 + 室.
Its exact structure changes depending on region and time period, but for most of its existence it has been a phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声). The phonetic has always been 之 (OC *tjɯ) or 止 (OC *kjɯʔ).
: Oracle bone inscriptions: phonetic 之 (OC *tjɯ) + 宀.
: Chu slips: phonetic 之 (OC *tjɯ) + 室
: Jin slips:
:* Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): abbreviated 喬 + 室. This is the modern form inherited by Han seal script.
:* Phonetic 止 (OC *kjɯʔ) + abbreviated 室
:* Phonetic 之 (OC *tjɯ) + 室
: Qin dynasty: Phonetic 止 (OC *kjɯʔ) + 高 + 室
Shuowen Jiezi interprets it as ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 之 (“foot”) + abbreviated 高 (“high”) + 室 (“building”) – a watch tower. The Shuowen Jiezi Zhu considers 㞢 (*tjɯ) to be the sound component.

Han compound

兄臺

兄台

Suffix for terms of address conveying respect for the addressee.

乙未割臺

乙未割台

來臺旅客

来台旅客

Short for 臺語／台語／台语 (táiyǔ, “Taiwanese Hokkien”).

一臺電腦

一台电脑

一臺望遠鏡

一台望远镜

Classifier for machines, vehicles or electronic devices. ⇒ all nouns using this classifier


至

Ideogram (指事): an arrow stuck into the ground. Some folk etymologies interpret the whole pictogram as an eagle catching a prey.
Compare 畀 and 矢. See also the bottom component of 睪, the original versions of 弗 and the top component of 𢦏.


薤

Allium chinense
Allium chinense#Translingual


腸

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹⁻³⁵/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹⁻³⁵/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *l'aŋ): semantic 肉 (“body”) + phonetic 昜 (OC *laŋ).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *g-jaŋ ~ m-jaŋ (“large intestine”), whence Helambu Tibetan ནང་ཇུལ (nang jul, “viscera; guts; entrails”) and Chepang योङ्क्लीः (yoŋ-kliʔ, “intestine”) (STEDT).
Schuessler (2007) suggests it is also cognate with Tibetan ལོང་ཀ (long ka, “intestines; entrails; guts”).
; Hong Kong Cantonese "penis"

cog

蝦腸／虾肠 [Cantonese] ― haa¹ coeng⁴⁻² [Jyutping] ― cheong fun with shrimp

叉腸／叉肠 [Cantonese] ― caa¹ coeng⁴⁻² [Jyutping] ― cheong fun with char siu

(Cantonese) Short for 腸粉／肠粉 (“cheong fun”).

(Hong Kong Cantonese, slang) penis (Classifier: 條／条 c)


菌

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡonʔ, *ɡrunʔ): semantic 艹 + phonetic 囷 (OC *kʰrun, *ɡrun).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *g-r(i/u)n (“mushroom; fungus”) (STEDT).


葬

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 茻 (“grass”) + 死 (“dead person”) – bury the dead 死 in the grass 茻. Top is now grass radical (艹), while bottom is simplified to 廾, hence graphically 艹 + 死 + 廾.

Han compound

塟
𦵏
𦽱
𧂥
𦿑
𦱼
𦴓


翼

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (翼):
* → Japanese: 翼(よく) (yoku)
* → Korean: 익(翼) (ik)

→ Translingual: Yi

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *lɯɡ): semantic 羽 + phonetic 異 (OC *lɯɡs).
Probably from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *lak ~ C-jak (“arm, hand, wing”), especially if the Old Chinese is reconstructed with *l- (Schuessler, 2007; Handel, 2009). Cognate with 腋 (OC *laːɡ, “armpit”), Tibetan ལག་པ (lag pa, “hand, arm”), Burmese လက် (lak, “hand, arm”).
However, Baxter and Sagart (2014) reconstruct the Old Chinese with *-p instead of *-k because of evidence from the oracle bones, making it difficult to compare to Proto-Sino-Tibetan *lak. The shift from the original version *ɢrəp to a later version *ɢrək is due to dialectal variation.
Sagart (2020) proposes a revised Old Chinese reconstruction *m-rəp, which he compares to Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s/b-ram (“rib”).

inh

right-wing (politics); right flank (military)

右翼


蔸

蔸 (Kangxi radical 140, 艸+11, 17 strokes, cangjie input 廿竹女山 (THVU), composition ⿱艹兜)


蔡

desc

→ English: Cai, Tsai, Ts'ai, Choi, Choy, Tsoi, Chua

→ Tagalog: Chua (via Hokkien)

/t͡sʰɔːi̯³³/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯³³/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *sʰlaːds): semantic 艸 (“vegetation”) + phonetic 祭 (OC *ʔsreːds, *ʔsleds).

Han compound

Kǒngzǐ qiān yú Cài sān suì, Wú fá Chén. Chǔ jiù Chén, jūn yú Chéngfù. Wén Kǒngzǐ zài Chén Cài zhījiān, Chǔ shǐ rén pìn Kǒngzǐ.

孔子遷于蔡三歲，吳伐陳。楚救陳，軍于城父。聞孔子在陳蔡之間，楚使人聘孔子。

孔子迁于蔡三岁，吴伐陈。楚救陈，军于城父。闻孔子在陈蔡之间，楚使人聘孔子。

(～國) (historical) Cai (an ancient Chinese state)


苞

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *pruː): semantic 艹 + phonetic 包 (OC *pruː).
Probably from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ʔ-bu ~ *pu (“to be born; birth; bud; bloom”). See 阜 (OC *buʔ, “big mound”) for more.

inh

bulrush (for making mats and straw sandals)

Alternative form of 包 (“to wrap up; to surround”)


薛

Xue Juzheng (lead author of the Old History of the Five Dynasties)

薛居正


蒲

→ Tangut: 𘀔 (*phu¹)

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *baː): semantic 艹 (“vegetation”) + phonetic 浦 (OC *pʰaːʔ).

Han compound

Acorus calamus
Acorus calamus#Translingual

Short for 菖蒲 (chāngpú, “Acorus calamus”).

Short for 蒲葵 (púkuí, “Livistona chinensis”).


蒸

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kljɯŋ): semantic 艸 (“grass”) + phonetic 烝 (OC *kljɯŋ, *kljɯŋs).

Han compound

蒸餃

蒸饺


蔣

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ʔsaŋ, *ʔsaŋʔ): semantic 艸 (“grass”) + phonetic 將 (OC *ʔsaŋ, *ʔsaŋs).

Han compound

Manchurian wild rice
Manchurian wild rice

Zizania latifolia
Zizania latifolia#Translingual

Manchurian wild rice (Zizania latifolia)


藐

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *mawʔ, *mraːwɢ): semantic 艹 + phonetic 貌 (OC *mreːwɢs).

Han compound

^† Alternative form of 邈 (miǎo, “faraway; distant”)


薸

Possibly related to 漂 (OC *pʰew, “to float; to drift”) (Liu, 1999).
Norman and Mei (1976) suggest instead that this word is of Austroasiatic origin, comparing it to Vietnamese bèo (“duckweed”), which they further relate to Mon ဗေဝ် (“to ride low in the water”) (< Proto-Mon-Khmer *ber (“to float”)). However, Sagart (2008) counts it among "either East Asian areal words if not Chinese words in disguise".


薯

General name for crops such as potato, sweet potato and yam.


薪

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *siŋ): semantic 艹 + phonetic 新 (OC *siŋ).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *siŋ ~ sik (“wood”). Cognate with Tibetan ཤིང (shing, “tree, wood”) and Burmese သစ် (sac, “log, timber, wood”). Compare its phonetic component 新 (OC *siŋ, “new”) and Burmese သစ် (sac, “new”).

Han compound

to extract the firewood from under the cauldron; to take drastic measures to deal with a situation [idiom]

釜底抽薪


苦

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (苦):
* → Japanese: 苦(く) (ku)
* → Korean: 고(苦) (go)
* → Vietnamese: khổ (苦)

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kʰaːʔ, *kʰaːs): semantic 艸 (“grass”) + phonetic 古 (OC *kaːʔ) – bitter (as in bitter plants).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *b-ka (“bitter; salty”); compare Tibetan ཁ (kha, “bitter”), Tangut 𗎖 (*khie¹, “bitter”) (STEDT; Jacques, 2014). Within Chinese, cognate with 肝 (OC *kaːn, “liver”).

inh

Alternative name for 荼 (tú, “bitter plant”).

苦笑


蕹

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声): semantic 艹 (“grass”) + phonetic 雍 (OC *qoŋ, *qoŋs).
From 壅 (OC *qoŋ, *qoŋʔ, *qoŋs, “to heap soil around the roots of a plant”) according to the Compendium of Materia Medica

och-l

Shizhen said, 蕹 is the same as 壅. This vegetable can only grow by heaping soil around the roots, so it is called 壅.

Shízhēn yuē: Wèng yǔ yōng tóng. Cǐ cài wéi yǐ yōng chéng, gù wèi zhī yōng.

時珍曰：蕹與壅同。此菜惟以壅成，故謂之壅。

时珍曰：蕹与壅同。此菜惟以壅成，故谓之壅。

Ipomoea aquatica
Ipomoea aquatica#Translingual


羽

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (羽):
* → Japanese: 羽(う) (u)
* → Korean: 우(羽) (u)
* → Vietnamese: vũ (羽)

⇒ Translingual: Yutyrannus

Pictogram (象形): wings or feathers.
Either from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-grwa (“feather”), whence Tibetan སྒྲོ (sgro, “large feather”) (Coblin, 1986; Gong Hwang-cherng, 2002; STEDT), or *w(a/u) (“bird; egg; wing; fowl”) (Matisoff, 2000; Schuessler, 2007; Sagart, 2021b; STEDT).

Yǔ means yū ‘to twist’; the yin-fluid is above, the yang-fluid is below; […] .

Ban Gu, The Comprehensive Discussions in the White Tiger Hall, 79 CE, translated based on Tjan Tjoe Som's version

Yǔ zhě, yū yě, yīnqì zàishàng, yángqì zàixià;.......

羽者，紆也，陰氣在上，陽氣在下；……。

羽者，纡也，阴气在上，阳气在下；……。

(music) fifth note in the Chinese pentatonic scale


菀

紫菀


芒

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *maːŋ, *maŋ): semantic 艹 (“grass”) + phonetic 亡 (OC *maŋ); perhaps, its original form was 方.
Unclear. Schuessler (2007) lists two possible comparanda:
* Proto-Kam-Sui *mpraːŋ¹ (“ear (of grain)”), which may be problematic due to inconsistent phonetic correspondence with the Middle Chinese form; and
* Burmese အမှင် (a.hmang, “stiff hair; bristles”), from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-ma-ŋ (“beard; moustache”) (STEDT).

cog

尼泊爾芒

尼泊尔芒


蒼

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *sʰaːŋ, *sʰaːŋʔ): semantic 艸 (“grass”) + phonetic 倉 (OC *sʰaːŋ).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-riŋ ~ s-r(j)aŋ (“to live; to be alive; to give birth; raw; green”) (STEDT). May be an old dialect variant of 青 (OC *sʰleːŋ, “green; blue”). Also cognate with 生 (OC *sʰleːŋ, *sreŋs, “to live”), 性 (OC *sleŋs, “nature”), 姓 (OC *sleŋs, “surname”) (Schuessler, 2007).


菅

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kroːn): semantic 艹 + phonetic 官 (OC *koːn) – a type of grass.


聽

Originally 𦔻, hence ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 耳 (“ear”) + 口 (“mouth(s)”) – to listen. Compare the top component of 聖.
Later, rewritten as phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *l̥ʰeːŋ, *l̥ʰeːŋs): phonetic 𡈼 (OC *l̥ʰeːŋʔ) + semantic 耳 (“ear”) + semantic 㥁 on the right.
The simplified version, 听, is totally unrelated to the original character and it originally means "smiling".
This is traditionally considered to have the same origin as 聖 (OC *hljeŋs, “to hear; wise; sage”) and 聲 (OC *qʰjeŋ, “sound”). Additionally, it may be also related to 聆 (OC *reːŋ, “to hear; to listen”) (Wang, 1982).
Outside connections unclear, although note Proto-Hlai *hliːŋ (“to hear (it said)”) from Pre-Hlai *(h)leːŋ (Norquest, 2007).
Derivatives:
* 廳 (OC *l̥ʰeːŋ, “hall, i.e. where hearings take place”)
* 廷 (OC *l'eːŋ, *l'eːŋʔ, “palace courtyard”).

och-l

听
聴
聼
𦗟
𦔻
𠯸
𦔽
𦕢
𦕘
𦖆
𦘏
𪢧
听
听
𪢧


生

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 屮 (“bud”) + 一 (“ground”) – sprouting from the ground. A conservative version is 𤯓, which is unrelated to 㞷 (匩 > 匡) and 𡴀 > 丰.
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-riŋ ~ s-r(j)aŋ (“to live; to be alive; to give birth; raw; green”). Cognate with Burmese ရှင် (hrang, “to live; alive”), Mizo hring (“to bear; to bring forth; to give birth to; green”).
Schuessler (2007) proposes that Proto-Sino-Tibetan *sriŋ is derived from the root *sri (“to exist”) (whence possibly Chinese 體 (OC *r̥ʰiːʔ, “body; shape; form”)) + *-ŋ (terminative suffix).
Both level tone and falling tone readings are found in Middle Chinese, but the latter has since been lost and is merged into the level-tone reading in modern dialects.
Related to 青 (OC *sʰleːŋ, “blue-green”), 蒼 (OC *sʰaːŋ, *sʰaːŋʔ, “dark blue; deep green”).
Derivatives: 性 (OC *sleŋs, “nature; character; personality; quality”), 姓 (OC *sleŋs, “family name”).
Pronunciation in Early Middle Chinese is *sraeng, but it comes from an earlier *srjaeng, as seen in Wang Renxu's edition of the Qieyun.


菊

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (菊):
* → Japanese: 菊(きく) (kiku)
* → Korean: 국(菊) (guk)
* → Vietnamese: cúc (菊)

Characters in the same phonetic series (匊) (Zhengzhang, 2003)
Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kuɡ): semantic 艹 + phonetic 匊 (OC *kluɡ).

Han compound

2021 April, 蔡戴梅, “【科普】“菊花”残，满心伤，你的痛苦我知道”, in 仁医报, number 103, page 3:

Yǔqí wèi déle zhìchuāng ér àonǎo, wèi zhìchuāng shù hòu yīcìcì huàn yào ér shāngshén, bùrú xiànzài jiù bìnqì bùliáng de shēnghuófāngshì, hǎohāo hēhù zìjǐ de “júhuā”, zuòhǎo “hù jú” kǒujué

与其为得了痔疮而懊恼，为痔疮术后一次次换药而伤神，不如现在就摈弃不良的生活方式，好好呵护自己的“菊花”，做好“护菊”口诀

與其為得了痔瘡而懊惱，為痔瘡術後一次次換藥而傷神，不如現在就擯棄不良的生活方式，好好呵護自己的“菊花”，做好“護菊”口訣

2022 July 8, 朕說·黃桑, 《朕說怪奇百科：人類篇》, Taipei: 時報文化出版, →ISBN, page 276:

Hello, is it 110? Someone is abusing their butthole!

喂，110嗎，有人虐菊！

喂，110吗，有人虐菊！


願

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (願):
* → Japanese: 願(がん) (gan)
* → Korean: 원(願) (won)
* → Vietnamese: nguyện (願)

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ŋʷans): phonetic 原 (OC *ŋʷan) + semantic 頁.

Han compound

願大家平安健康。

愿大家平安健康。

I will not venture to ask about the particulars, but I should like to hear the scope of your plan.

Kē yě qǐng wú wèn qí xiáng, yuàn wén qí zhǐ.

軻也請無問其詳，願聞其指。

轲也请无问其详，愿闻其指。

I am now in my forty-fourth year, and Grandmother Liu is now ninety-six. Thus, I have a long time in which to fulfill my duty to Your Majesty, and only a short time in which to repay Grandmother Liu for raising me. I am like the crow that feeds its mother, and I beg to be allowed to care for her to her final days.

《陳情表》, 268 CE, translated by David Knechtges

Chén Mì jīnnián sìshí yǒu sì, zǔmǔ Liú jīnnián jiǔshí yǒu liù; shìyǐ chén jìn jié yú bìxià zhī rì cháng, bào Liú zhī rì duǎn yě. Wū niǎo sīqíng, yuàn qǐ zhōngyǎng!

臣密今年四十有四，祖母劉今年九十有六；是以臣盡節於陛下之日長，報劉之日短也。烏鳥私情，願乞終養！

臣密今年四十有四，祖母刘今年九十有六；是以臣尽节于陛下之日长，报刘之日短也。乌鸟私情，愿乞终养！

to be willing; to be ready; to do willingly

上願／上愿 [Meixian Hakka]

song¹ ngian⁴ [Hakka Transliteration Scheme]


芝

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *tjɯ): semantic 艹 (“grass”) + phonetic 之 (OC *tjɯ) – a type of plant.

Han compound

靈芝

灵芝


蕭

→ English: Hsiao, Xiao, Siu

There he is gathering the oxtail-southern-wood!
A day without seeing him,
Is like three seasons!

Bǐ cǎi xiāo xī, yīrì bù jiàn, rú sān qiū xī.

彼采蕭兮，一日不見，如三秋兮。

彼采萧兮，一日不见，如三秋兮。

Artemisia argyi
Wikispecies:Artemisia argyi

(obsolete) Chinese mugwort (Artemisia argyi)

In winter the viscount of Chu invaded Xiao, which Hua Jiao of Song, with a body of men from Cai, endeavoured to relieve.

Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Dōng, Chǔ zǐ fá Xiāo, Sòng Huà Jiāo yǐ Cài rén jiù Xiāo.

冬，楚子伐蕭，宋華椒以蔡人救蕭。

冬，楚子伐萧，宋华椒以蔡人救萧。

(～國) (historical) Xiao (an ancient state during the Spring and Autumn period, located in modern-day Xiao County, Anhui)

(～縣) Xiao County (a county of Anhui, China)


蚳

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *dil): semantic 虫 (“insect”) + phonetic 氐 (OC *tiːl, *til).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *d(w)əy (“egg; testicle”) (STEDT).


蘋

Used in 蘋婆／苹婆 (píngpó, “Chinese chestnut”).


蕩

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *l̥ʰaːŋs, *l'aːŋʔ): semantic 艹 + phonetic 湯 (OC *l̥ʰaːŋ, *l̥ʰaːŋs, *hljaŋ).

Han compound

蕩婦

荡妇

(literary, or in compounds) unconstrained and doing whatever one wants


艾

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ŋaːds, *ŋads): semantic 艸 (“grass”) + phonetic 乂 (OC *ŋads).

Han compound

There that one is gathering the mugwort! A day without seeing that one, is like three years!

Bǐ cǎi ài xī. Yīrì bùjiàn, rú sānsuì xī.

彼采艾兮。一日不見、如三歲兮。

彼采艾兮。一日不见、如三岁兮。

mugwort, especially Chinese mugwort (Artemisia argyi)


薰

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *qʰun, *qʰuns): semantic 艹 + phonetic 熏 (OC *qʰun). However, the phonetic component is a reference to smoked herbs; it is also the original form of this character, so it indicates part of the meaning.


薩

Evolved from some variant of 薛.
The surname originated from the Hui artist 薩都剌 (Sadula) in Yuan dynasty and was clipping of his original name.


興

Characters in the same phonetic series (興) (Zhengzhang, 2003)
Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 舁 (“to raise”) + 同 (“together”) – to hold up together.

Han compound

(poetry) association; speaking first of something else to lead up to the main theme


蘿

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *raːl): semantic 艸 + phonetic 羅 (OC *raːl).


虔

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

According to the Shuowen Jiezi, Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡren): phonetic 文 (OC *mɯn) + semantic 虍.
According to Li Xueqin (2012), the phonetic component is instead 虍 (OC *qʰaː).

Han compound

(obsolete) looking like a tiger walking; strong; powerful


莫

Pictogram (象形) – the sun (日) sinking into the bushes (屮); dusk. Original form of 暮 (OC *maːɡs, “dusk”).
The bottom was later distorted into 大.
From 無 (OC *ma, “there is no”) + distributive suffix *-k (Schuessler, 2007).

𦶛
𦱤
䒬
勿
嘜
麥
賣
甭
⿰勿愛*

莫做聲！

莫做声！

moʔ⁵⁻²¹ ⁽ˢ⁻⁾lɛ²¹³⁻⁵³ nˡɛi²⁴²

Don't be too polite. / Make yourself at home.

mŏ̤h-sá̤-nê / [moʔ⁵⁻²¹ ⁽ˢ⁻⁾lɛ²¹³⁻⁵³ nˡɛi²⁴²]

莫細膩。

moʔ⁵⁻²¹ ⁽ˢ⁻⁾lɛ²¹³⁻⁵³ nˡɛi²⁴²

莫细腻。

你莫腿囉。

你莫腿啰。

Don't be panicked when conflagration happens

發生火災莫驚慌

发生火灾莫惊慌

莫為盜！莫為殺人！

莫为盗！莫为杀人！

In life, fully enjoy yourself when you are delighted; do not allow an empty goblet to face the moon.

Rénshēng déyì xū jìn huān, mò shǐ jīnzūn kōng duì yuè.

人生得意須盡歡，莫使金樽空對月。

人生得意须尽欢，莫使金樽空对月。

(literary or dialectal Mandarin, dialectal Cantonese, Gan, Hakka, Eastern Min, Xiang) do not; don't; must not


聖

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *hljeŋs): semantic 耳 (“ear”) + phonetic 呈 (OC *rleŋ, *l'eŋs). Compare 聽.
Likely related to 聽 (OC *l̥ʰeːŋ, “to hear; to listen”), 聲 (OC *qʰjeŋ, “sound”) (Boltz, 1994). If derived directly from 聲 (OC *qʰjeŋ, “sound”), it would literally mean “to be renowned; someone who is renowned” (Schuessler, 2007).

Han compound

圣
圣
垩
𠄵
𦔻
𤦉
𭹖
琞
𤦨
𪣿
𩫽
𥅶
䎴
𦕡
𫆅
𨉑
𨲣
𨲢
𰿓
𤪈
𰿒
𡑺
𨲚
𨲉
𧟿

(honorific) form of address for the respected


藝

Originally written as 埶 (OC *ŋeds). The 艸 (“grass; plant”) and 云 were added later.

技藝／技艺

手藝／手艺


葵

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡʷil): semantic 艹 (“grass, plant”) + phonetic 癸 (OC *kʷilʔ) – a kind of plant.

Han compound

(Hong Kong) Short for 葵涌 (Kuíchōng, “Kwai Chung”).


薑

desc

→ Lisu: ꓚꓬꓺ (tʃɑ̱), ꓚꓬꓮꓥꓺ (tʃɑ̱ŋ)

→ Lisu: ꓚꓬꓺ (tʃɑ̱), ꓚꓬꓮꓥꓺ (tʃɑ̱ŋ)

→ Spanish: kion, kión

→ Zhuang: gieng

/kiaŋ³³⁻³³⁵/

/kiaŋ³³⁻³³⁵/

Originally 䕬, a phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kaŋ): semantic 艸 (“grass; plant”) + phonetic 彊 (OC *kaŋs, *ɡaŋ, *ɡaŋʔ).
Note that the simplified form 姜 (OC *klaŋ) is also a traditional character on its own.
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *kjaŋ (“ginger”). Compare Burmese ချင်း (hkyang:).

Han compound

The Mengshe Barbarians use pepper, ginger, and cinnamon to boil as a drink.

Tang Dynasty, Fan Chuo, Manshu, chapter 7, part 7

Méngshè Mán yǐ jiāo, jiāng, guì hé pēng ér yǐn zhī.

蒙舍蠻以椒、薑、桂和烹而飲之。

蒙舍蛮以椒、姜、桂和烹而饮之。


自

Sino-Xenic (自):
* → Vietnamese: tự (自)

→ Vietnamese: từ

/d̥͡z̥z̩²¹³/

/d̥͡z̥z̩²¹³/

Characters in the same phonetic series (自) (Zhengzhang, 2003)
Originally a pictogram (象形) of a nose; in China (and East Asia) one points at one’s nose to indicate oneself, hence an ideogram (指事) of “self”. Unrelated to 面.
The original meaning of “nose” has been replaced by 鼻.

Han etyl

(swimming) Short for 自由泳 (zìyóuyǒng, “freestyle”).


蛀

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *tjos): semantic 虫 + phonetic 主 (OC *tjoʔ).

Han compound

insect that eats through paper, clothes, wood, grains etc. (e.g. moth, silverfish, etc.)


蔓

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *moːn, *mons): semantic 艸 (“grass”) + phonetic 曼 (OC *moːn, *mons).


蕎

→ Proto-Hmong-Mien: *ɟæu

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɒu̯¹³/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɒu̯¹³/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *krew, *ɡrew): semantic 艸 (“grass, plant”) + phonetic 喬 (OC *krew, *ɡrew).
Compare Longchuan Achang tɕhauʔ⁵⁵, Tshobdun ʃɔ, Lhasa Tibetan བྲ་བོ (bra bo) (Blench and Post, 2014).


蕉

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ʔsew): semantic 艹 (“grass; plant”) + phonetic 焦 (OC *ʔsew).

Han compound

banana; plantain (any plant in Musaceae, especially the edible fruit) (Classifier: 根 m; 串 m; 把 m; 條／条 c; 隻／只 c; 梳 c; 弓 mn)


蓬

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *boːŋ): semantic 艸 (“vegetation”) + phonetic 逢 (OC *boŋ).


老

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (老):
* → Korean: 로/노(老) (ro/no)
* → Vietnamese: lão (老)

Characters in the same phonetic series (老) (Zhengzhang, 2003)
Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 人 (“man”) + 毛 (“hair”) + 匕 (“cane”) – a man with long hair (an old man), leaning on a cane. Compare top component to 孝 (OC *qʰruːs).
Cognate to 考 (OC *kʰluːʔ); the most commonly cited example of 轉注 (“reciprocal meaning”).
Unknown. Compare Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-raw (“withered, residue, corpse”), *rwat (“stiff, tough”), whence Burmese ရော် (rau, “wither, become overripe; age”), ရွတ် (rwat, “old, stiff, tough”). See also 古 (gǔ), 故 (gù).
An old Sino-Vietnamese borrowing is rệu (“overripe, pulpy”).

cog

老早

He is such a nice person! [colloquial, somewhat regional]

他人老好了。

⁵khoe-tau ⁶non ¹tsen-gheq ⁶lau ¹khe-shin-gheq

看到儂真個老開心個。

看到侬真个老开心个。


蝴

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡaː): semantic 虫 (“insect”) + phonetic 胡 (OC *ɡaː).


蘸

to dip in; to submerge in (sauce, ink, etc.)


虼

虼 (Kangxi radical 142, 虫+3, 9 strokes, cangjie input 中戈人弓 (LION), four-corner 5811₇, composition ⿰虫乞)


蔭

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *qrɯms): semantic 艹 + phonetic 陰 (OC *qrɯm).


與

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *la, *laʔ, *las): phonetic 舁 (OC *la, “raised hands”) + phonetic 牙 (OC *ŋraː). Both components are phonetic. The closest version to the original is 𦥸.
; "to be with; to associate with"
; "to give"

Han compound

与
𠔔
𠔜
𦥸
𦦲
𫝌
𫟋
𫤰
𭁇
𭁈
𭁉
𭁕
𮍫
𮍬
𮍭
𮍰

Zi Qin asked Zi Gong, saying, "When our master comes to any country, he does not fail to learn all about its government. Does he ask his information? or is it given to him?"

The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE

Zǐqín wèn yú Zǐgòng yuē: “Fūzǐ zhìyú shì bāng yě, bì wén qí zhèng, qiú zhī yú? Yì yǔ zhī yú?”

子禽問於子貢曰：「夫子至於是邦也，必聞其政，求之與？抑與之與？」

子禽问于子贡曰：「夫子至于是邦也，必闻其政，求之与？抑与之与？」

(Classical, alt. form 歟／欤) Sentence-final particle used to express an exclamatory, doubtful or questioning tone


虛

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kʰa, *qʰa): phonetic 虍 (OC *qʰaː) + semantic 丘 (“hill”). The lower component retains the shape of 丠, the ancient form of 丘.

Han compound

(astronomy) Emptiness, a Chinese constellation near Aquarius and Equuleus


蚣

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kloːŋ, *kljoŋ): semantic 虫 (“insect; creature”) + phonetic 公 (OC *kloːŋ).

Han compound

Only used in 蜈蚣 (wúgōng) and its regional synonyms.


藕

desc

→ Proto-Southwestern Tai: *ʰŋawꟲ (“central root”)

Ahom: 𑜂𑜧 (ṅaw), 𑜂𑜨𑜧 (ṅow), 𑜂𑜧𑜈𑜫 (ṅaww)

Lao: ເຫງົ້າ (ngao)

Lü: ᦄᧁᧉ (ṅgaw²)

Northern Thai: ᩉ᩠ᨦᩮᩢ᩶ᩣ

Shan: ငဝ်ႈ (ngāo)

Thai: เหง้า (ngâo)

→ Vietnamese: ngó (“lotus root”)

→ Zhuang: ngaeux (“lotus; lotus root”)

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ŋoːʔ): semantic 艸 (“grass”) + phonetic 耦 (OC *ŋoːʔ).


菜

/t͡sʰɔːi̯³³/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯³³/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *sʰɯːs): semantic 艹 (“grass; plant”) + phonetic 采 (OC *sʰɯːʔ).
From 采 (OC *sʰɯːʔ, “to gather; to pluck”) + nominalizing *-s, literally “what is gathered or plucked” (Sagart, 1999; Schuessler, 2007). See 采 for more.

冬菜

preserved dried cabbage or mustard greens; winter vegetable

這道菜很對胃口。

这道菜很对胃口。

Whenever he comes to this place, he orders the same dish.

Měi cì tā lái zhèr, tā dōu diǎn tóngyàng de cài.

每次他來這兒，他都點同樣的菜。

每次他来这儿，他都点同样的菜。

我在考慮我晚飯做什麼菜。

我在考虑我晚饭做什么菜。

dish; course (Classifier: 盤／盘 m; 道 m; 味 m)

菜鳥／菜鸟 ― càiniǎo ― noob

我好菜啊。

poor English (pun on the name of Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen)

菜英文

(colloquial) bad; inferior; disappointing; below average

(Hong Kong Cantonese, slang, derogatory) girlfriend (Classifier: 條／条 c; 樖 c)


蛛

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *to): semantic 虫 (“insect”) + phonetic 朱 (OC *tjo). Originally a pictogram (象形) of a spider. Later, 朱 was added to the pictograph to indicate sound. In small seal script, the character became written as the characters 鼄／𬹣 and 蛛.

Used in 蜘蛛 (zhīzhū, “spider”); also used as its short form.

QJ - between ancient Qin and JinZW - in the vicinity of ancient Zhao and WeiNY - between Northern Yan


茄

→ Amis: kiyo

→ Kavalan: kiu

→ Sakizaya: kiyu

→ Proto-Southwestern Tai: *kʰɯəᴬ

desc

⇒ Lao: ຫມາກເຂືອ (māk khư̄a)

⇒ Lao: ຫມາກເຂືອ (māk khư̄a)

⇒ Shan: မၢၵ်ႇၶိူဝ် (màak khǒe)

⇒ Shan: မၢၵ်ႇၶိူဝ် (màak khǒe)

⇒ Thai: มะเขือ (má-kʉ̌ʉa)

⇒ Thai: มะเขือ (má-kʉ̌ʉa)

→ Zhuang: gwz

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡa, *ɡal, *kraːl): semantic 艹 (“grass; plant”) + phonetic 加 (OC *kraːl).

Han compound

車厘茄

车厘茄

茄蛋治

(Cantonese) Short for 番茄 (faan¹ ke⁴⁻², “tomato”).


虐

In the oracle bone script, an ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 虎 (“tiger”) + 人 (“person”).
Possibly related to 謔 (OC *hŋawɢ, “to ridicule”) (Bodman, 1980)。

𥤫
𩁿
䖋
䖈
𧆱
𧆩
𧆧
𧆝
𫊞
䨋
𮓘
𣑅
𣑾


螢

From 虫 "worm", 熒 "fluorescent" sound, indicating fireflies.

och-l

熒 (OC *ɡʷeːŋ, “luminous, fluorescent; to shine, to shimmer, to dazzle”)


虞

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ŋʷa): semantic 虍 (“tiger”) + phonetic 吳 (OC *ŋʷaː).

Han compound

an ancient state during the Western Zhou and the Spring and Autumn period, located in modern-day Pinglu County, Shanxi


藻

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ʔsaːwʔ): semantic 艹 (“plant”) + phonetic 澡 (OC *ʔslaːwʔ).


良

Pictogram (象形). Possibly depicts corridors and a room, in which case it would be the original form of 廊. See also the top component of 复. Unrelated to 食 and 即.
Possibly from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *l(j)a(k/ŋ) (“good, beautiful”).

inh

(obsolete) term of address used by a woman for her husband


萌

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *mreːŋ): semantic 艹 (“grass; plant”) + phonetic 明 (OC *mraŋ).
; “to bud; to begin”
; “moe”


蟶

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *l̥ʰeŋ): semantic 虫 + phonetic 聖 (OC *hljeŋs).

Han compound

a razor clam, in particular a Chinese razor clam (Sinonovacula constricta) (Classifier: 敉 mn)


蟄

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *dib): phonetic 執 (OC *tjib) + semantic 虫 (“bug”).
Possibly related to 揖 (jí, “to cluster together”) (Schuessler, 2007).


蠔

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声): semantic 虫 + phonetic 豪 (OC *ɡaːw).


蜇

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ʔl'ed): phonetic 折 (OC *l'eːl, *ʔljed, *ɦljed) + semantic 虫 (“insect; creature”).
Possibly related to 蠆 (OC *m̥ʰraːds, “scorpion”) (Schuessler, 2007).

Han compound

(of bees, scorpions, etc.) to sting; to bite


蘆

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *raː, *ra): semantic 艹 (“plant”) + phonetic 盧 (OC *b·raː).


蠣

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *m·rads): semantic 虫 (“insect; bug; creature”) + phonetic 厲 (OC *m·rads).


蘊

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *quns): semantic 艸 (“grass”) + phonetic 縕.
Compare 韞／韫 (yùn).


薺

Only used in 荸薺／荸荠 (bíqi) and its regional synonyms.


蝗

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡʷaːŋ, *ɡʷraːŋ, *ɡʷraːŋs): semantic 虫 + phonetic 皇 (OC *ɡʷaːŋ).

Han compound

(Hong Kong, derogatory) swarms of Mainlander migrants


茶

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (茶):
* → Japanese: 茶(ちゃ) (cha) (see there for further descendants)
* → Okinawan: 茶(ちゃー) (chā)
* → Korean: 차(茶) (cha)
* → Vietnamese: trà (茶)

desc

→ Cantonese: 嗲 (de¹, “to chat”) (via Teochew)

→? Cebuano: tsa (via Cantonese)

→ Classical Persian: چَا (čā) (via Mandarin), چَای (čāy) (via Mandarin, with Persian suffix -y(i) added) (see there for further descendants)

→ Drung: cha

→ Dutch: thee (via Hokkien) (see there for further descendants)

→ English: cha, char (via Cantonese)

→ Hlai: dhe (via Hainanese)

→ Khmer: តែ (tae)

→ Malay: ca (via Cantonese)

desctree

→ Malay: teh (via Hokkien)
Indonesian: teh

desc

→ Mongolian: цай (caj), ᠴᠠᠢ (čai) (via Mandarin)

desctree

→ Portuguese: chá (via Cantonese)
→ Apalaí: xa
→ Gujarati: ચા (cā)
→ Hunsrik: Scha
→ Nheengatu: xaa
→ Spanish: cha / chá (Philippine Spanish)
→? Tagalog: tsa, sa — obsolete, cha, saa, tsaa, chaa
→? Cebuano: tsa
→ Tetum: xá

→ Punjabi: (via Mandarin)

Gurmukhi script: ਚਾਹ (cāh)

Shahmukhi script: چاہ (cāh)

→ Spanish: té (via Hokkien)
→ Asturian: té
→ Basque: te
→ Catalan: te
→ Galician: té
→ Navajo: dééh
→ Occitan: tè

→ Proto-Tai: *ɟaːᴬ

Bouyei: xaz

Lao: ຊາ (sā)

Thai: ชา (chaa)

Zhuang: caz

→? Tagalog: tsa (via Cantonese)

→ Tibetan: ཇ (ja)

→ Vietnamese: chè (茶, 𦷨)

→ Yonaguni: さー

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *rlaː): semantic 艹 + phonetic 余 (OC *la).
茶, then slightly modified into a more conservative 茶, originates as a graphical modification of archaic 荼 (*rlaː, “bitter plant”), used for “tea” in classical sources. The modern version is unrelated to the bottom component of 條.
As tea may have originated from Sichuan, where the native Yi people speak Loloish languages, Sagart (1999) suggests that the Old Chinese item was possibly originally borrowed from Proto-Loloish *la¹ (“tea”), from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-la (“leaf; tea”). Schuessler (2007) traces its ultimate origin to Proto-Austroasiatic *slaʔ (“leaf”) (in Sidwell's 2024 reconstruction).
Alternatively, Qiu (1988) suggests that it might be a semantic extension of 荼 (*rlaː, “bitter plant”).

茶滷

tea left out overnight, stain on teaware

早茶

去茶樓飲餐茶

去茶楼饮餐茶


蔥

→ Kapampangan: sang

→ Tagalog: tsang

→ Zhuang: coeng

/tʰɵŋ³³⁻²¹⁵/

/tʰɵŋ³³⁻²¹⁵/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *sʰloːŋ): semantic 艸 (“grass; plant”) + phonetic 悤 ().
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *b-tsuŋ (“onion”). Cognate with Tibetan བཙོང (btsong), ཙོང (tsong, “onion, scallion”).

Han compound

葱
葱
𦯎
䓗
菍
𦴜
𧁗
𢚱
𦹎
葱
葱

green onion; spring onion; scallion (Classifier: 根 m; 棵 m; 把 m; 捆 m; 條／条 c; 樖 c; 紮／扎 c; 叢／丛 mn)


蟒

Possibly from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *g-lja(ŋ/k) (“python”), whence Proto-Loloish *laŋ¹ (“snake”), Proto-Karen *g-laŋ (“python”) (Handel, 1997; STEDT).


英

Short form of 英吉利 (Yīngjílì, “England”) or 英格蘭／英格兰 (Yīnggélán, “England”).

中英數／中英数 [Cantonese] ― zung¹ jing¹ sou³ [Jyutping] ― Chinese, English and mathematics

2016, Batman Sir, 《90後教師血淚史》, Hong Kong: 小明文創, →ISBN, page 51:

履歷表中定英？

履历表中定英？


蒙

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *moːŋ): semantic 艹 (“grass”) + phonetic 冡 (OC *moːŋ)
STEDT compares it to Proto-Sino-Tibetan *muːŋ ~ r/s-muːk (“foggy; dark; sullen; menacing; thunder”).


蠍

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *qʰad): semantic 虫 + phonetic 歇 (OC *qʰad).

Han compound

蠍子

蝎子


蒜

→ Lisu: ꓢꓪꓮꓠꓸ (swɑ́n)

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *sloːns): semantic 艸 + phonetic 祘 (OC *sloːns).
Matisoff considers this to be derived from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *swa-n (“garlic”), but more likely this may be a plant imported from the Western Regions in the Qin–Han era. The relatively late attestation and the earlier form of 卵蒜 (luǎnsuàn) attest to the latter theory.
Compare Sanskrit लशुन (laśuna), Pali lasuṇa, lasuna. The Old Chinese reconstruction was revised to a *-or rhyme in the Baxter–Sagart system, akin to its homophone 算 (“to calculate”). Hence compare Persian سیر (sir, “garlic”), Khotanese sārmā- (“the plant Basella cordifolia or B. lucida or B. rubra”), Hungarian sárma (“Ornithogalum sp.”), as well as Turkish sarımsak, Mongolian саримс (sarims).
Either way this word is cognate with the second syllable of Burmese ကြက်သွန် (krakswan, “onion”), ကြက်သွန်ဖြူ (krakswanhpru, “garlic”).


若

Pictogram (象形) – a person combing their hair; obedient.
Later 口 was added and the original component came to be written 叒.
; “you; your”
; "like this; such; if"
; "that"

旁若無人

旁若无人

讀若闌。

读若阑。


蟳

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声): semantic 虫 (“bug”) + phonetic 尋 (OC *ljum).
Probably related to Vietnamese sam (“king crab”), which may be related to Proto-Mon-Khmer *kt₁aam, whence Khmer ក្ដាម (kdaam, “crab”), Mon ဂတာံ (“crab”) (Norman and Mei, 1976).


螞

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声): semantic 虫 (“insect”) + phonetic 馬 (OC *mraːʔ).
Traditionally thought to be the same word as 馬 (OC *mraːʔ, “horse > big”).
Mei (1985) proposes that it is derived from 蝱 (OC *mraːŋ, “horsefly”), which he relates to Proto-Tai *m.leːŋᴬ (“insect”).


褂

/kʷʰaː³³⁻³⁵/

/kʷʰaː³³⁻³⁵/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声): semantic 衣 (“clothes”) + phonetic 卦.


船

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (船):
* → Japanese: 船(ぜん) (zen); 船(せん) (sen)
* → Korean: 선(船) (seon)
* → Vietnamese: thuyền (船)

→ Manchu: ᠴᡠᠸᠠᠨ (cuwan)

→ Yukjin Korean: 촨 (chwan)

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɦljon): semantic 舟 (“boat”) + phonetic 㕣 (OC *lon).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *m-lawŋ (“boat”). Compare Burmese လောင်း (laung:, “long and narrow boat”), and Mizo lawng (“boat or ship”).
Sagart (1999) interprets Old Chinese 船 (OC *ɦljon) as a nominal derivate of the verb 沿 (OC *lon, “to go downstream a river”). The Fangyan states that this word was commonly used in western China, but, by Han times, it had completely displaced the earlier 舟 (OC *tjɯw), used in central and eastern China.
Alternatively, the Proto-Sino-Tibetan root could be a loan from Proto-Mon-Khmer *d₂lu(u)ŋ ~ *d₂l(u)əŋ (“boat”), whence Mon ဂၠုၚ် (klɜ̀ŋ, “canoe, small boat”), perhaps a derivate of Proto-Mon-Khmer *luŋh ~ *luuŋh ~ *ləŋh (“to hollow, excavate, bore”), see Khmer លុង (lung, “to dig a hole”) and Vietnamese trũng (“concave”) (Sidwell, 2006; Schuessler, 2007).

cog

Láiqù jiāngkǒu shǒu kōng chuán, rào chuán míngyuè jiāngshuǐ hán.

來去江口守空船，繞船明月江水寒。

来去江口守空船，绕船明月江水寒。

watercraft; vessel (including ships, boats, sailing ships, hovercrafts; sometimes including submarines) (Classifier: 條／条 m; 艘 m; 隻／只 m c mn; 架 c)


融

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *luŋ): semantic 鬲 (“cauldron”) + phonetic 蟲 (OC *l'uŋ, *l'uŋs).
“Hot air; steam; heat” > “to melt” > “to blend”.
Sino-Tibetan; compare Burmese လောင် (laung, “to burn; to be burnt; to scorch”). Related to 蟲 (OC *l'uŋ, *l'uŋs, “hot; hot air; hot weather”) (as in 蟲蟲 (OC *l'uŋ/l'uŋs l'uŋ/l'uŋs)), 爞 (OC *l'uːŋ, *l'uŋ, “hot weather”) and possibly the word family of *lVm: 焰 (OC *loms, “fire”).
It belongs to a word family comprising characters meaning “to melt, to smelt, to fuse, to dissolve”. In modern times the various characters have taken on their specialised meanings:
* 融 (OC *luŋ, “to melt (at normal temperature); to blend”)
* 鎔 (OC *loŋ, “to smelt; to melt (at a high temperature)”)
* 熔 (OC *loŋ, “to smelt; to melt (at a high temperature)”)
* 溶 (OC *loŋ, *loŋʔ, “to dissolve (in a liquid)”)

och-l

Short for 融城 (Róngchéng, “Fuqing, Fuzhou”).


蝨

Characters in the same phonetic series (卂) (Zhengzhang, 2003)
Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *sriɡ): phonetic 卂 (OC *sins, *tods) + semantic 䖵.
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-r(j)ik (“louse”).


蘇

Sino-Xenic (蘇):
* → Japanese: 蘇(そ) (so)

→ English: Su, So, Sou, Soh, Soo

→ Tagalog: So (via Hokkien)

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *sŋaː): semantic 艸 (“grass; plant”) + phonetic 穌 (OC *sŋaː).
; Cantonese "socket"


袍

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *buː): semantic 衣 (“clothing”) + phonetic 包 (OC *pruː).

Han compound

(Chinese-style) long gown, robe, or cloak


薄

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *baːɡ): semantic 艹 + phonetic 溥 (OC *pʰaːʔ, *paːɡ).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ba (“thin; flat”) (STEDT). Cognate with Burmese ပါး (pa:, “thin”), Jingpho pha (pha³¹, “thin”).

Han compound

刻薄


袁

In oracle bone script, ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 衣 (“clothes”) + 又 (“hand”) – "to put on clothes; to wear", representing the original form of 擐 (OC *ɡʷraːns) (Qiu, 1985, Chi, 2014). Some variant forms added 〇 (the earliest form of 圓 (OC *ɢon, “circle”), now written 口) as a sound component. The component 又 has corrupted into 㞢 in seal script and 土 in clerical script.

袁世凱

袁世凯

袁隆平


蜀

Cao Wei
Chen dynasty
Eastern Han dynasty
Eastern Wei
Eastern Wu
Eastern Zhou dynasty
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms
Han dynasty
Jin dynasty (1115–1234)
Jin dynasty (265–420)
Liang dynasty
Liao dynasty
Liu Song dynasty
Ming dynasty
Northern Qi
Northern Wei
Northern Zhou
Northern and Southern dynasties
Qin dynasty
Qing dynasty
Shang dynasty
Shu Han
Shuowen Jiezi
Song dynasty
Southern Qi
Southern and Northern dynasties
Spring and Autumn period
Sui dynasty
Tang dynasty
Three Kingdoms
Warring States period
Western Han dynasty
Western Liao
Western Wei
Western Xia
Western Zhou dynasty
Xia dynasty
Xin dynasty
Yuan dynasty
Zhou dynasty

Shuowen Jiezi interprets this as a pictograph of a silkworm: with 目 (mù, “eye”) depicting its head above its wriggling body; cf. 蠶叢／蚕丛 (“silkworm-thicket”), legendary inventor of silk and sericulture and ancestor of the first dynasty of the Shu kings.

(Wei) General-who-Calms-the-West Deng Ai soundly defeated Shu Grand General Jiang Wei at Shanggui

Chen Shou, Records of the Three Kingdoms, circa 3ʳᵈ century CE

Ānxī jiāngjūn dèng ài dà pò shǔ dà jiāng jiāng wéi yú shàngguī.

安西將軍鄧艾大破蜀大將姜維於上邽。

安西将军邓艾大破蜀大将姜维于上邽。

another name for Shu Han, one of Three Kingdoms


藥

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (藥):
* → Japanese: 薬(やく) (yaku)
* → Korean: 약(藥) (yak)
* → Vietnamese: dược (藥)

→ Kavalan: iyu

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *lawɢ): semantic 艹 (“grass”) + phonetic 樂 (OC *ŋraːwɢs, *raːwɢ, *ŋraːwɢ).
According to Schuessler (2007), either:
* related to Mizo hlo (“a weed, drug, medicine”), or
* cognate to 療 (OC *rews, “to treat, to cure”), thus beloning to the same word family as 瀹 (OC *lowɢ), 爍 (OC *qʰljawɢ).


蠶

Bodman (1980) relates this to Tibetan སྡོམ (sdom, “spider”). Perhaps cognate to 蔪 (OC *zamʔ, “to entwine”) (Schuessler, 2007), as well as 縶 (OC *tib, “to rope, tether, bind”), with these terms deriving from a Proto-Sino-Tibetan *tip ~ *tu(p/m) (“to wrap up”), whence Burmese ထုပ် (htup, “to wrap, bundle”) (STEDT). The silkworm would thus be seen as a "wrapping (bug)", which is particularly apt when considering the process of sericulture.

der

蚕
𧉏
蝅
𧑯
𧌩
䗝
䗞
䘉
𧕽
𧖟
蠺


藍

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (藍):
* → Japanese: 藍(らん) (ran)
* → Korean: 람(藍) (ram)
* → Vietnamese: lam (藍)

desc

→ Proto-Hmong-Mien: *ŋglam ~ ŋgram (“indigo”)

White Hmong: nkaj

→ Proto-Tai: *g.raːmᴬ (“indigo”)

Thai: คราม (kraam)

Lao: ຄາມ (khām)

Zhuang: gyaemq (“purple-red”)

→ Proto-Tai: *kromꟲ (“indigo”)

Thai: ฮ่อม (hɔ̂ɔm)

Zhuang: romj, goromj

→? Proto-Vietic: *ɟaːm (“indigo”)

Muong: chàm

Vietnamese: chàm

→ Khmer: ត្រុំ (trom)

→ Zhuang: lamz

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡ·raːm): semantic 艸 (“grass”) + phonetic 監 (OC *kraːm, *kraːms).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *g-ram (“indigo”); cognate with Lepcha ᰛᰤᰨᰮ (ryom), Mru [script needed] (charam), Tibetan རམས (rams, “indigo”) (STEDT; Schuessler, 2007; Hill, 2019). However, Laufer (1916) considers the Tibetan word to be borrowed from Chinese.
Schuessler (2007) considers this an areal word, possibly from Southeast Asia; cf. Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taʀum (“indigo plant and dye”) (> Malay tarum).

cog

Burmese ခရမ်း (hka.ram:, “purple, violet”)

Blue is obtained from the indigo plant but is bluer than the plant itself.

青，取之於藍，而青於藍。

青，取之于蓝，而青于蓝。

Indigofera tinctoria
Indigofera tinctoria#Translingual

(HK politics) supportive of the Hong Kong Police Force and the Hong Kong government

藍絲

名藍／名蓝 ― mínglán

(literary) Short for 伽藍／伽蓝 (qiélán, “Buddhist temple”).

藍玉

蓝玉


藤

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *l'ɯːŋ): semantic 艸 (“grass”) + phonetic 滕 (OC *l'ɯːŋ) – a type of plant.


蛋

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *l'aːns): phonetic 延 (OC *lan, *lans) + semantic 虫 (“snake, insect”). Hence, the non-contracted form is 蜑. It means "egg", with a reference to snake eggs. In the current version, 延 is abbreviated to 疋.
This character was coined at a late stage in Chinese, since it is unattested on oracle bones, bronzes, Shuowen Jiezi and Guangyun.
From 彈 (MC danH, “pellet”) (Zhengzhang, 2003).

Han compound

傻蛋

笨蛋

suffix denoting “person of certain characteristics”, usually with a pejorative tone


裴

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *buːl, *bɯl): phonetic 非 (OC *pɯl) + semantic 衣 (“clothing”).

Han compound

Pei Songzhi (Chinese historian that made annotations to the Records of the Three Kingdoms)

裴松之


裔

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *leds): semantic 衣 (“cloth”) + phonetic 㕯 ().
;border
;posterity, descendants

Han compound

The borderers may not plot against the grand ("夏") domains; the aliens should not sow chaos among the flourishing ("華") peoples.

裔不謀夏，夷不亂華。

裔不谋夏，夷不乱华。


蝶

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (蝶):
* → Japanese: 蝶(ちょう) (chō)
* → Vietnamese: điệp (蝶)

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *l̥ʰeːb, *l'eːb): semantic 虫 (“insect”) + phonetic 枼 (OC *leb).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *lep (“butterfly”). See 蝴蝶 (húdié) for more.

Han compound

(swimming) Short for 蝶泳 (diéyǒng, “butterfly stroke”).


蜂

desc

→ Proto-Southwestern Tai: *pʰɤŋꟲ (“bee; beeswax”)

Ahom: 𑜇𑜢𑜤𑜂𑜫 (phüṅ)

Lao: ເຜິ້ງ (phœng, “bee”)

Lü: ᦕᦹᧂᧉ (ṗhueng²)

Shan: ၽိုင်ႈ (phūeng, “bee”)

Thai: ผึ้ง (pʉ̂ng, “bee”)

Simplified from 蠭. Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *boːŋ, *pʰoŋ): semantic 虫 (“insect”) + phonetic 夆 (OC *pʰoŋ, *boŋ, *ɡaːds) – a kind of insect.
Cognate with Tibetan བུང་བ (bung ba, “bee”) (Schuessler, 2007). STEDT lists 蜂 as a Chinese comparandum under its Proto-Sino-Tibetan root *pljum (“bee, wasp”).
May be ultimately of onomatopoeic origin. Compare Proto-Mon-Khmer *ʔu(ə)ŋ ~ hu(ə)ŋ (“bee, wasp, hornet”), whence Vietnamese ong (“bee”).

cog

蜂蜜

In the survival capsule, [you] learn to plant flowers, the honey will meet the bee

tou⁴ sang¹ cong¹, noi⁶ leoi⁵ hok⁶ zung³ faa¹, mat⁶ wui⁵ jyu⁶ soeng⁵ fung¹

逃生艙 內裡學種花 蜜會遇上蜂

逃生舱 内里学种花 蜜会遇上蜂


蝠

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *pɯɡ): semantic 虫 + phonetic 畐 (OC *pʰrɯɡ, *bɯɡ). An extinct pictogram (象形) of a bat occurs in the oracle bone and bronze scripts; it is thought to write this word but is not ancestral to the character 蝠.
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *baːk (“bat”).


蠻

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *mroːn): phonetic 䜌 (OC *b·roːn, *b·ron, *b·rons) + semantic 虫 (“snake”).
Possibly related to Burmese မြန်မာ (mranma, “Myanmar; Burma; Burmese”), Tibetan བྲན (bran, “servant, slave”).

cog

南蠻

南蛮

(historical, derogatory) A collective name for all non-Han ethnic groups south of Han areas of China in any given era.

胡攪蠻纏

胡搅蛮缠

蠻好吃

蛮好吃

man¹³ xau²⁵ ʑiəɯ¹³

[man¹³ xau²⁵ ʑiəɯ¹³]

蠻好食

man¹³ xau²⁵ ʑiəɯ¹³

[man¹³ xau²⁵ ʑiəɯ¹³]

蛮好食

儂好𠲎？我蠻好。

侬好𠲎？我蛮好。


蚊

/ᵐbun²¹⁻²¹⁵/

/ᵐbun²¹⁻²¹⁵/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *mɯn): semantic 虫 (“insect”) + phonetic 文 (OC *mɯn).
From Proto-Mon-Khmer *muujs with a nominal suffix *-n (Schuessler, 2007). Compare Khmer មូស (muuh), Vietnamese muỗi.

Han compound

蟁
𧓹
𧓢
𧉬
𧊈
鴖
蚉
螡
䘇
𧏎
𨷷
𧖁
文
緡


蓮

→⇒ Old Uyghur: 𐾁𐽶𐽺𐽲𐽳𐽰 (lénhua)

→ Vietnamese: sen

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *renʔ, *reːn): semantic 艹 + phonetic 連 (OC *ren).
Related to 蕑 (OC *kreːn, “lotus seed”) (Schuessler, 2007).

Han compound

Nelumbo nucifera
Nelumbo nucifera#Translingual


藏

Departing tone derivative of etymology 1.

蔵
匨
𢧿
蔵
匨
𢧿
蔵
茺
潛
汆
葱


葛

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kaːd): semantic 艹 + phonetic 曷 (OC *ɡaːd).

Han compound

Pueraria lobata
Pueraria lobata#Translingual

(～國) State of Ge (a small state in modern Henan province during the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties)


蠅

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *b·lɯŋ): semantic 虫 (“insect”) + phonetic 黽 (OC *mlenʔ, *mliŋʔ, *mreːŋʔ).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-b-(r/j)aŋ (“fly; bee”). Compare 虻 (OC mˁraŋ, “"horsefly"”), Tibetan སྦྲང་བུ (sbrang bu, “bee”), Burmese ယင် (yang, “fly”), Chepang याङ् (“insect; fly”), Japhug ɣʑo (“bee”) (STEDT; Coblin, 1986; Benedict, 1972; Schuessler, 2007; Zhang, Jacques, and Lai, 2019).


草

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (草):
* → Japanese: 草(そう) (sō)
* → Korean: 초(草) (cho)
* → Vietnamese: thảo (草)

Vietnamese: tháu (“scrawling”)

/t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴/

/t͡sʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *sʰuːʔ): semantic 艹 (“grass; plant”) + phonetic 早 (OC *ʔsuːʔ). Originally referred to 皂, and later borrowed for the “grass” sense, replacing 艸.
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *r-tswa-n (“grass”); cognate with Tibetan རྩྭ (rtswa, “grass”) (Schuessler, 2007; STEDT).
Alternatively, it may be related to 芻 (OC *sʰro, “hay”), from Austroasiatic; compare Mon ချဲ (“grass; weeds; hay”) (Schuessler, 2007).

Han compound

屮
艸
𢂉
𦯑
𦯨
𦳕
𦷣
𦳱
騲

狂草

(calligraphy) Short for 草書／草书 (cǎoshū, “cursive script (grass script)”).


裙

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (裙):
* → Vietnamese: quần (裙)

/t͡ɕʰyə̯ɻ³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰyə̯ɻ³⁵/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡlun): semantic 衤 (“clothing”) + phonetic 君 (OC *klun).

Han compound

skirt; apron; dress; petticoat (Classifier: 條／条 c)


裦

裦 (Kangxi radical 145, 衣+9, 15 strokes, cangjie input 卜竹竹女 (YHHV), composition ⿴衣⿰𠀉矛 or ⿳亠⿰𠀉矛𧘇)


襯

/t͡sʰaiŋ²¹³/

/t͡sʰaiŋ²¹³/


襄

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *snaŋ): phonetic 𤕦 () + semantic 衣 (Li Xueqin, 2012). However, the original version on oracle bones resembles a man with raised hands while undressing; later, a hand and the radical of the cloth were added.
; “to remove”


褥

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (褥):
* → Japanese: 褥(じょく) (joku)
* → Korean: 욕(褥) (yok)
* → Vietnamese: nhục (褥)

→ Indonesian: jok

→ Korean: 요 (yo)

/d͡ziɔk̚¹²¹/

/d͡ziɔk̚¹²¹/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *nuːɡ, *njoɡ): semantic 衣 + phonetic 辱 (OC *njoɡ).


蛤

Compare Proto-Tai *kɤpᴰ (“frog”), whence Thai กบ (gòp), Lao ກົບ (kop), Zhuang goep, Shan ၵူပ်း (kúup), Ahom 𑜀𑜤𑜆𑜫 (kup).


襖

→? Proto-Bahnaric: *ʔaːw (“shirt”)

Bahnar: ao (“shirt”)

→? Khmer: អាវ (ʼaaw)

desc

→? Proto-Vietic: *ʔaːwʔ (“upper garment”)

Vietnamese: áo

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *quːʔ, *quːʔ): semantic 衣 (“clothing”) + phonetic 奧 (OC *quːɡs).


落

→ Ai-Cham: lau⁵

→ Thai: โละ (ló) (via Teochew loh⁸)

→ Vietnamese: lạc

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡ·raːɡ): semantic 艹 + phonetic 洛 (OC *ɡ·raːɡ).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *(k/g)la-k/y/t (“to fall”) (STEDT, Schuessler, 2007):
:within Sinitic, cognate to 露 (OC *ɡ·raːɡs) "dew", 下 (OC *ɡraːʔ, *ɡraːs, “down, below, to descend, to fall down”) , 陊 (OC *l'aːlʔ, *l'alʔ) "to collapse" and 阤 (OC *l'alʔ, *hljalʔ) "hillside, slope";
:outsides Sinitic, cognate to Mizo tla ~ tlâk (“to fall”) and thla ~ thlâk (“to drop”), Burmese ကျ (kya., “to fall”) and ချ (hkya., “to drop”).
Schuessler attributes OC *r-, instead of expected **l-, to possible Austroasiatic influence: compare Khmer [script needed] (gra'ka, “be low, debased”) < [script needed] (-ra'ka, “to fall, below, cover from above”). However, Matisoff (2003) identifies several ST etyma which display TB *(C‑)l- vs. OC *(C‑)r‑ correspondence (e.g. *l(j)a(k/ŋ) (“good, beautiful”) → 良 (OC *raŋ), *g/m-liŋ (“neck”) → 領 (OC *reŋʔ), etc.) and TB *(C‑)r- vs. OC *(C‑)l‑ (e.g. *g-rjum (“salt”) → 鹽 (OC *ɡ·lam)); so irregularities in correspondence do not necessarily indicate foreign influences.
Contemporary southern usage possibly reinforced by a Kra-Dai term. The term has been associated with Zhuang loengx (“to fall”).
Zhengzhang suggested that Pronunciation 2 was a result of loss of final consonant of the retained Old Chinese Pronunciation 1.

cog

落選／落选

落伍

佢睇落幾靚仔。

佢睇落几靓仔。

(Cantonese) added after a verb to express a reassessment after doing or experiencing something for a certain period of time


褲

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kʰʷaːs): semantic 衣 (“clothing”) + phonetic 庫 (OC *kʰaːs).

Han compound

pants; trousers (Classifier: 條／条 c; 領／领 mn)


診

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *l'ɯns, *kljɯnʔ): semantic 言 + phonetic 㐱 ().

Han compound

(medicine) to examine (a patient); to diagnose


裳

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *djaŋ): phonetic 尚 (OC *djaŋ, *djaŋs) + semantic 衣 (“clothing”).


衙

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ŋraː, *ŋa, *ŋaʔ): semantic 行 + phonetic 吾 (OC *ŋraː, *ŋaː).
From 牙 (MC ngae, “tooth”)

Han compound

In the recent era, the official court is commonly known as gongya ("official tooth"), which is gongchao ("official court") in ancient times. The character is originally 牙. The Classic of Poetry says, "Qifu, we are the claws and teeth of the king." Qifu is the minister of war, who is in charge of weaponry and, like a ferocious beast, defends using his claws and teeth. Hence the large banner before the army is known as the "tooth banner"; when sending the troops out, the tooth banner is erected and offered sacrifices; when listening to military orders, the army must be under the tooth banner; this is no different from the government office. In recent times, military affairs are commonly revered, so the gongfu is known as gongya and the fumen is known as yamen. The character has changed into 衙.

Tang dynasty, 封演 (Feng Yan), 《封氏聞見記》 (Master Feng's Records of Things Heard and Seen)

Jìndài tōng wèi fǔtíng wèi gōngyá, gōngyá jí gǔ zhī gōngcháo yě. Zì běn zuò “yá”. “Shī” yuē: “Qífù yǔ wáng zhī zhǎoyá.” Qífù, sīmǎ, zhǎng wǔbèi, xiàng měngshòu, yǐ zhǎoyá wèi wèi. Gù jūn qián dà qí wèi zhī “yáqí”, chūshī zé yǒu jiànyá, màyá zhī shì, jūn zhōng tīng hàolìng, bì zhì yáqí zhī xià, chēng yǔ fǔcháo wú yì. Jìn sú shàngwǔ, shì yǐ tōng hū gōngfǔ wèi gōngyá, fǔmén wèi yámén. Zì chēng ébiàn, zhuǎn ér wèi “yá” yě.

近代通謂府廷為公衙，公衙即古之公朝也。字本作「牙」。《詩》曰：「祈父予王之爪牙。」祈父，司馬，掌武備，象猛獸，以爪牙為衛。故軍前大旗謂之「牙旗」，出師則有建牙、禡牙之事，軍中聽號令，必至牙旗之下，稱與府朝無異。近俗尚武，是以通呼公府為公牙，府門為牙門。字稱訛變，轉而為「衙」也。

近代通谓府廷为公衙，公衙即古之公朝也。字本作「牙」。《诗》曰：「祈父予王之爪牙。」祈父，司马，掌武备，象猛兽，以爪牙为卫。故军前大旗谓之「牙旗」，出师则有建牙、祃牙之事，军中听号令，必至牙旗之下，称与府朝无异。近俗尚武，是以通呼公府为公牙，府门为牙门。字称讹变，转而为「衙」也。

He stood before four offices on the midnight road

身列四衙半夜路


號

→ Zhuang: heuh, hauh

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɦlaːw, *ɦlaːws): phonetic 号 (OC *ɦlaːws) + 虎 (“tiger”).
Originally an ideogram (指事) of a tiger and a line representing its roar, hence exhaled air while roaring. Later forms added 口 (“mouth”) or 言 (“speech”) to emphasize the act of crying or calling. The original meaning was "to roar; to shout". 号 derives from 口 and the line 丂.
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *(g/k)aw (“to call”) (Schuessler, 2007, STEDT). Compare Kinnauri ku, Anong go, and Burmese ခေါ် (hkau). The extension of the meaning ‘shout, call’ to ‘ask, request’ is parallel to 呼 (hū).
Pronunciation 1 is the exopassive derivation of pronunciation 2, literally "what is called".


處

Sino-Xenic (處):
* → Vietnamese: xử (處)

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kʰljaʔ, *kʰljas): phonetic 虍 (OC *qʰaː) + semantic 夂 + semantic 几 (“table”).
In Starostin, this is reconstructed as *thaʔ in Old Chinese and subsumed under Proto-Sino-Tibetan *dhăH (/*thăH) (“to put; to place”), whence also 署 (OC *djas, “to place; to position”), Tibetan གདའ (gda', “to be; to be there”), གདན (gdan, “seat; residence”) and Burmese ထား (hta:, “to put; to place”).
With the original *–l– initial, compare Proto-Tamangic *ᴮglaː/ᴬglaː (“place”), Mizo tla, tlat (“to be; to exist; to live; to remain”) (Schuessler, 2007).
居 (OC *kɯ, *kas) may be related (Schuessler, 2007).

cog

处
処
䖏
𠙚
𧇤
𩂭
𩂫
𠁅

staying at home; not assuming a government position, or not married


詢

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *sqʰʷin): semantic 言 + phonetic 旬 (OC *sɢʷin).

Han compound

to inquire into; to ask about; to consult with


舌

→ Proto-Hmong-Mien: *mblet

Characters in the same phonetic series (舌) (Zhengzhang, 2003)
Pictogram (象形) – a forked tongue emerging upwards from a mouth (口). See also 言 and 音. Unrelated to 舍, in which it represents a hut.
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s/m-l(j)a-t (“tongue”); compare Western Magar मेलेट (melet, “tongue”), Jingpho shinglet (“tongue”) (STEDT; Schuessler, 2009). The reconstruction of a complex initial *m(ə)-l- in Old Chinese is based on evidence from the softened initial in Proto-Min as well as Proto-Hmong-Mien *mblet (“tongue”) (Schuessler, 2007; Baxter and Sagart, 2014).
Alternatively, Schuessler (2007), reconstructing the Old Chinese minimally as *m-lat, derives it from 舐 (OC *m-leʔ, “to lick”) + *-t (“nominal suffix for natural objects”), literally “licker”.

Han etyl

(Hokkien, figurative) speech; speaking (used in certain expressions)


裡

Wutunhua: -li

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *rɯʔ): semantic 衤 (“clothes”) + phonetic 里 (OC *rɯʔ), rearrangement of 裏.

Han compound

這裡

这里

那裡

那里

哪裡

哪里


訂

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *teːŋs, *tʰeːŋ, *deːŋʔ): semantic 言 + phonetic 丁 (OC *rteːŋ, *teːŋ).


蠟

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (蠟):
* → Japanese: 蝋(ろう) (rō, “wax”)
* → Korean: 납(蠟) (nap, “wax”)

desc

→ Mongolian: лаа (laa, “candle”), лав (lav, “wax”)

→? Proto-Vietic: *k-raːp (“wax”)

Vietnamese: sáp (“wax; candle”)

→ Zhuang: lab (“candle”)

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *raːb): semantic 虫 (“insect”) + phonetic 巤 (OC *rab).
Probably from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-krjap (“bug; ant; insect (lac); cochineal”); cognate with Burmese ချိပ် (hkyip, “lac”), Proto-Loloish *C-gripᴸ (“lac; pine”), Jingpho krep (“bedbug”), Proto-Kiranti *khrep (“bug; ant”) (Schuessler, 2007; STEDT).
However, this word is not attested until the 2nd to 3rd century (Ferlus, 2012b) (earliest attested in Comments of a Recluse (潛夫論) by Wang Fu (王符)). It may instead be a borrowing from Proto-Vietic *k-raːp (“wax”) (Ferlus, 2012; Jacques, 2016b).


訴

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意) and phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *sŋaːɡs): semantic 言 (“word, speak”) + phonetic 斥 (OC *ŋ̊ʰjaːɡs, *ŋ̊ʰjaːɡ, “accuse, blame”) – to accuse verbally.


蓋

→ Japanese: 蓋し (kedashi) (calque)

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kaːbs, *kaːb, *ɡaːb): semantic 艸 (“grass”) + phonetic 盍 (OC *ɡaːb) — a thatch.
盍 is the original character for the “cover” sense. However, because this original character was borrowed to mean “why not”, the scope of senses for 蓋 expanded to include the “cover” sense (and its extended meanings).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *(g/k)wap (“to cover, incubate, hatch”). Within Chinese, compare:
* 盍 (OC *ɡaːb, “to join, unite; door leaf”)
* 閤 (OC *kuːb, “small gate”)
* 蛤 (OC *kuːb, “oyster, mussel”)
* 合 (OC *kuːb, *ɡuːb, “to join, unite; harmony; to close, shut”)
* 洽 (OC *ɡruːb, “to unite, assemble; to accord with”)
* 翕 (OC *qʰrub, “united, harmonious”)
Outside of Sinitic, cognate with Mizo [Term?] (hûap, “to include, to take in, to cover, to embrace, to apply to”). The Sino-Tibetan root is likely allofamic with Proto-Tibeto-Burman *ʔup (“idem”), the latter whence Burmese အုပ် (up, “to cover”) (STEDT).


裘

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯³⁵/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡʷɯ): phonetic 求 (OC *ɡu) + semantic 衣 (“clothes”).
Probably Sino-Tibetan. Various comparanda have been proposed:
* Tibetan གྲུ (gru, “boat (of inflated hides)”) (Bodman, 1980);
* Tamang [Term?] (¹kuri, “skin”) (Schuessler, 2007);
* Tibetan གོས (gos, “clothes”), Japhug ŋga (“to wear”) (Zhang, Jacques and Lai, 2019).

cog

裘錫圭

裘锡圭


詈

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 网 (“net”) + 言 (“speech; word”). The net is perhaps a reference to the act of punishing somebody after a verbal abuse when such an abuse is considered an offence. The original version is 𧧧.

Han compound

(literary or Northern Min, Hokkien) to curse; to scold; to abuse verbally


蟬

Characters in the same phonetic series (單) (Zhengzhang, 2003)
Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *djan): semantic 虫 (“insect”) + phonetic 單 (OC *taːn, *djan, *djanʔ, *djans).

Han compound

That which drinks but does not eat is the cicada. That which neither drinks nor eats is the mayfly.

Yǐn ér bùshí zhě, chán yě; bùyǐn bùshí zhě, fúyóu yě.

飲而不食者，蟬也；不飲不食者，蜉蝣也。

饮而不食者，蝉也；不饮不食者，蜉蝣也。


蝦

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *qʰraː, *ɡraː): semantic 虫 (“insect”) + phonetic 叚 (OC *kraːʔ).
Related to 赮 (OC *ɡraː, “red”), 霞 (OC *ɡraː, “rosy clouds”), 瑕 (OC *ɡraː, “jade with some red”) (Wang, 1982).
; “fan of Xiao Zhan”

Han compound

虾
鰕
𧎂
虾
虾
哈
㗇
謑
𫬗
虾
孲

毛蝦／毛虾

明蝦／明虾

龍蝦／龙虾

蝦片／虾片

shrimp; prawn; lobster (Classifier: 隻／只 m c mn; 尾 m mn)

2020 June 28, 杨建伟 (Yang Jianwei), 徐牧心 (Xu Muxin), 《肖战的粉与黑》, in 《Vista看天下》, issue 492, page 19

Rán'ér, jǐnjǐn shù fēnzhōng hòu, zhè tiáo wēibó xià pínglùn de huàfēng jiù biàn le, “wǒ juéde nǐ lìng yǒu suǒ zhǐ,” pèi le ge chīguā qúnzhòng de biǎoqíng, “xīwàng xiā bù dòngtán de lái zhèlǐ.” “huó xiā huì yībiān shuō gēge wúgū, yībiān guàrén, hǎo kěpà ne.”

然而，僅僅數分鐘後，這條微博下評論的畫風就變了，「我覺得你另有所指，」配了個吃瓜群眾的表情，「希望蝦不動彈的來這裡。」「活蝦會一邊說哥哥無辜，一邊掛人，好可怕呢。」

然而，仅仅数分钟后，这条微博下评论的画风就变了，「我觉得你另有所指，」配了个吃瓜群众的表情，「希望虾不动弹的来这里。」「活虾会一边说哥哥无辜，一边挂人，好可怕呢。」

2020 August 10, 郑瑜 (Zheng Yu), 张荣旺 (Zhang Rongwang), 《区块链走俏“肖战粉丝圈” 存证商业化道阻且长》, in 《中国经营报》 [China Business Journal], issue 2368, page B7

“kàndào (mǒhēi ǒuxiàng de tiězi) zhuǎnfā, diǎnzàn, pínglùn (shùliàng) dábiāo de, mǎshàng fùzhì liànjiē, yòng ‘quánzhèngliàn’ cúnzhèng, wǒmen yào yòng fǎlǜ wǔqì bǎohù tā, wǒmen dōu yào zuò Xiào Zhàn de xiāxiā!”

「看到（抹黑偶像的帖子）轉發、點讚、評論（數量）達標的，馬上複製鏈接，用『權證鏈』存證，我們要用法律武器保護他，我們都要做肖戰的蝦蝦！」

「看到（抹黑偶像的帖子）转发、点赞、评论（数量）达标的，马上复制链接，用『权证链』存证，我们要用法律武器保护他，我们都要做肖战的虾虾！」

2021 January 1, 枣泥, 《各大棚网站集体涨价，垄断寡头即将出现？》, in 《出版人》 [China Publishers], →ISSN, issue 294, page 102

Nián chū de yī chǎng 227 shìjiàn, jiāng qùnián gāng róngshēng dǐngjí liúliàng zhī guàn de Xiào Zhàn fàng zài rè guō shàng lièhuǒ pēngyóu, érhòu de 427, 627, fēngbō yánxù bùduàn, fǎn xiā (Xiào Zhàn fěnsī zìchēng xiǎofēixiá, bèi bù xǐhuān Xiào Zhàn de rén xìchēng wèi “xiā”) dàjūn bùduàn zhuàngdà, gèng yǒu hěnduō yuánběn yuǎnlí fěnquān, duì shéi dōu wúgǎn de lùrén bèi lā xiàshuǐ, zuìzhōng bùdébù shùqǐ fǎn xiā dàqí.

年初的一場227事件，將去年剛榮升頂級流量之冠的肖戰放在熱鍋上烈火烹油，而後的427、627，風波延續不斷，反蝦（肖戰粉絲自稱小飛俠，被不喜歡肖戰的人戲稱為「蝦」）大軍不斷壯大，更有很多原本遠離粉圈，對誰都無感的路人被拉下水，最終不得不豎起反蝦大旗。

年初的一场227事件，将去年刚荣升顶级流量之冠的肖战放在热锅上烈火烹油，而后的427、627，风波延续不断，反虾（肖战粉丝自称小飞侠，被不喜欢肖战的人戏称为「虾」）大军不断壮大，更有很多原本远离粉圈，对谁都无感的路人被拉下水，最终不得不竖起反虾大旗。

2021 June 30, 周蓉 (Zhou Rong), 《“赶工”追星中的粉丝劳动及同意制造研究 ——基于肖战粉圈的观察与访谈》 (thesis), Lanzhou: Lanzhou University, page 44

Fěnsī duì “ǒuxiàng” zhège xiǎngxiàng gòngtóngtǐ yǒu zhe jítǐ rèntóng, jīyú duì Xiào Zhàn de gòngtóng rè'ài, xiǎofēixiámen huì zìfā xúnzhǎo zǔzhī, yǐcǐ dáchéng “xiāquān” huò “xiātáng” de jiàngòu.

粉絲對「偶像」這個想象共同體有著集體認同，基于對肖戰的共同熱愛，小飛俠们會自發尋找組織，以此達成「蝦圈」或「蝦塘」的建構。

粉丝对「偶像」这个想象共同体有着集体认同，基于对肖战的共同热爱，小飞侠们会自发寻找组织，以此达成「虾圈」或「虾塘」的建构。


覭

miŋ⁵⁵ kaʔ⁵ t͡sʰuɔ²¹³ l̃ɛ³³

mĭng găk chió lā̤ / [miŋ⁵⁵ kaʔ⁵ t͡sʰuɔ²¹³ l̃ɛ³³]

覭洽厝𡅏

miŋ⁵⁵ kaʔ⁵ t͡sʰuɔ²¹³ l̃ɛ³³

𬢒洽厝𡅏

(Eastern Min) to hide; to conceal oneself; to take cover; to shelter oneself


製

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意) and phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kjeds): phonetic 制 (OC *kjeds, “to cut out; to make”) + semantic 衣 (“clothes”).

Han compound

縫製

缝制


蘭

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡ·raːn): semantic 艹 (“plant”) + phonetic 闌 (OC *ɡ·raːn).

Han compound

Eupatorium fortunei
Eupatorium fortunei#Translingual

馬蘭

马兰

澤蘭

泽兰

米仔蘭

米仔兰

木蘭

木兰

吊蘭

吊兰

蟹爪蘭

蟹爪兰

(in compounds) A plant that is fragrant or shares morphological similarities with orchids or Eupatorium fortunei

愛爾蘭

爱尔兰

芬蘭

芬兰

蘭卡斯特

兰卡斯特

伊斯蘭

伊斯兰

Used in transcription. Often used for -land in foreign place names.


裸

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡ·roːlʔ): semantic 衣 (“clothing”) + phonetic 果 (OC *kloːlʔ) – lacking clothes, naked.
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan [Term?]. Cognate with Tibetan སྒྲེ (sgre, “naked”), Proto-Kuki-Chin *ruak (“empty; naked; void”) (STEDT; Schuessler, 2007).

cog

倮
𡑤
*臝
𧝹
*躶
𦣔
儽
㒩


襪

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *mad): semantic 衣 (“clothing”) + phonetic 蔑 (OC *meːd, *meːd).

Han compound

袜
韤
韈
𥀯
韎
𤿗
𥿉
帓
𤿖
靺

sock; stocking (Classifier: 隻／只 c; 對／对 c)


衫

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *sroːm): semantic 衣 + phonetic 彡 (OC *sroːm, *slom).

Han compound

一件衫

(literary or Cantonese, Min) shirt; top (Classifier: 件 c; 領／领 mn)

一套衫

(literary or Cantonese, Hakka, Min, Pinghua) clothing; clothes (Classifier: 套 c; 軀／躯 mn)


裂

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *red) and ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): phonetic 列 (OC *red, “to tear”) + semantic 衣 (“clothes”) — to cut and tear clothes.
The phonetic 列 depicts bones being cut up with a blade and arranged in a line.


裂

(Hokkien) to break open revealing a crack

(Hokkien) Classifier for cut left by a knife.


襠

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *taːŋ): semantic 衣 (“clothing”) + phonetic 當 (OC *taːŋ, *taːŋs).


詐

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ʔsraːɡs): semantic 言 + phonetic 乍 (OC *zraːɡs).

Han compound

詐病／诈病

General Ji Xin rode the king's carriage, pretending to be the King of Han (Liu Bang) to deceive the Chu.

The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE

Jiāngjūn Jì Xìn nǎi chéng wángjià, zhà wèi hànwáng, kuáng chǔ.

將軍紀信乃乘王駕，詐為漢王，誑楚。

将军纪信乃乘王驾，诈为汉王，诳楚。

to bluff (someone) into giving information

(obsolete) pretty; charming; dignified; haughty; proud

This was a positional war. Why does it then talk about it in terms of a surprise attack? (translation adapted from Gentz, 2015)

Commentary of Gongyang, c. 206 BCE– 9 CE

Cǐ piānzhàn yě, hé wèi yǐ zhàzhàn zhī cí yán zhī?

此偏戰也，曷為以詐戰之辭言之？

此偏战也，曷为以诈战之辞言之？

(obsolete) Alternative form of 乍 (zhà, “suddenly”)


訕

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *sraːn, *sraːns): semantic 言 (“speech”) + phonetic 山 (OC *sreːn)


訊

Characters in the same phonetic series (卂) (Zhengzhang, 2003)
Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *sins): semantic 言 + phonetic 卂 (OC *sins, *tods).


託

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *l̥ʰaːɡ): semantic 言 + phonetic 乇 (OC *ʔr'aːɡ).

Han compound

Further still, let your mind find its enjoyment in the circumstances of your position; rely on the central course which you pursue, by a reference to your unavoidable obligations. This is the highest object for you to pursue.

Qiěfú chéngwù yǐ yóuxīn, tuō bùdéyǐ yǐ yǎngzhōng, zhì yǐ.

且夫乘物以遊心，託不得已以養中，至矣。

且夫乘物以游心，托不得已以养中，至矣。


覽

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡ·raːmʔ): phonetic 監 (OC *kraːm, *kraːms) + semantic 見 (“see”).

Han compound

Alternative form of 攬／揽 (lǎn, “to take on; to adopt”)


誆

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kʰʷaŋ, *ɡʷaŋs): semantic 言 + phonetic 匡 (OC *kʰʷaŋ).


紅

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡoːŋ): semantic 糸 (“silk”) + phonetic 工 (OC *koːŋ).
彤 (OC *l'uːŋ, “red”) could be a variant of 紅 (OC *ɡoːŋ) (Schuessler, 2007). May be related to 虹 (OC *kroːŋs, *ɡoːŋ, “rainbow”).
Originally referred to lighter shades of red; gradually replaced 赤 (chì, “red”) as the basic color term for "red".

Han compound

豬紅／猪红 [Cantonese] ― zyu¹ hung⁴ [Jyutping] ― pig blood tofu

雞紅／鸡红 [Cantonese]

(euphemistic, Cantonese, Hakka) blood tofu


街

→ Bouyei: gaail

→ White Hmong: kev

→ Zhuang: gai

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kreː, *kreː): semantic 行 + phonetic 圭 (OC *kʷeː).
Originally, the phonetic component is not related to the concept of earth (土) since in its original form it represents a pair of ritual axes perhaps made of jade 士. Hence, the link to the concept of earth in this character and 厓 either comes from folk etymology or its appearence in the Small Seal script.
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *r/g-wa (“village”) (STEDT); see 里 (OC *rɯʔ, “village”) for more.

Han compound

新港街


訟

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *sɢloŋ, *sɢloŋs): semantic 言 (“say”) + phonetic 公 (OC *kloːŋ).


襲

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ljɯb): phonetic 龖 (OC *l'ɯːb) + semantic 衣 (“cloth”).
The bronze inscription and Shuowen zhouwen forms were in the form of 𧟟. The Shuowen small seal script form and subsquent forms are in the form of 襲, as the phonetic component 龖 has been reduced to 龍.


裁

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

/t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *zlɯː, *zlɯːs): semantic 衣 + phonetic 𢦏 (OC *ʔslɯː). However, the phonetic component has a reference to a blade and an arrow, hence to the concept of cutting (e.g., fabric).

Han compound

裁縫

裁缝

裁衣服

Bùzhī xì yè shéi cái chū, èryuè chūnfēng sì jiǎndāo.

不知細葉誰裁出，二月春風似剪刀。

不知细叶谁裁出，二月春风似剪刀。


褒

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *puː, *puː): semantic 衣 + phonetic 保 (OC *puːʔ).

Han compound

(historical) A mountain valley in the east of Mian County, Shaanxi Province.

(historical) An ancient state whose city is in the east of Mian County, Shaanxi Province.


褒

The later generation then collects fine words and good deeds to add to it

淸·惲敬《〈誦芬錄〉序》

Hòushì shāo póují jiāyánshànxíng yǐ fùyì zhī.

後世稍襃集嘉言善行以附益之。

淸·惲敬《〈誦芬錄〉序》

后世稍襃集嘉言善行以附益之。

Alternative form of 裒 (póu, “to gather; to collect”)


註

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *tos, *tjos): semantic 訁 + phonetic 主 (OC *tjoʔ).

Han compound

備註

备注


詹

desc

→ English: Zhan, Chan, Cham, Chiam, Tsim, Chim

Zhan Tianyou (Chinese railroad engineer)

詹天佑


誡

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意) and phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *krɯːɡs): semantic 言 (“speech”) + phonetic 戒 (OC *krɯːɡs, “guard against”).