犬

Bai: *qʰuaŋ²

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴/

/t͡ɕʰyɵn²¹³/

/t͡ɕʰy̯e̞⁴¹/

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴/

/t͡ɕʰyɵn²¹³/

/t͡ɕʰy̯e̞⁴¹/

Characters in the same phonetic series (犬) (Zhengzhang, 2003)
Pictogram (象形) – the side view of a dog.
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *d-kʷəj-n (“dog”); cognate with Tibetan ཁྱི (khyi, “dog”), Burmese ခွေး (hkwe:, “dog”).
This common Sino-Tibetan word has been replaced by 狗 (OC *koːʔ) in most topolects except Eastern Min, such as Fuzhou kēng. In other topolects, this word is mainly found in compounds and not used alone.

Han etyl

警犬

He who is presenting a horse or a sheep should lead it with his right hand. He who is presenting a dog should lead it with his left hand.

The Book of Rites, c. 4ᵗʰ – 2ⁿᵈ century BCE

Xiào mǎ xiào yáng zhě yòu qiān zhī; xiào quǎn zhě zuǒ qiān zhī.

效馬效羊者右牽之；效犬者左牽之。

效马效羊者右牵之；效犬者左牵之。

(formal or in compounds or Eastern Min, Waxiang, dialectal Wu) dog


剪

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴/

Originally 𣦃 and then stylized into 前, a phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ʔslenʔ): phonetic 歬 (OC *zleːn) + semantic 刀 (“knife”). Since 前 has replaced 歬, an additional 刀 has been added.

Han compound

剪草機

剪草机

剪刀

剪指甲


叽

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɒu̯⁴⁵/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɒu̯⁴⁵/


助

→ Thai: ช่วย (chûai)

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *zras): phonetic 且 (OC *sʰjaːʔ, *ʔsa) + semantic 力 (“strong arm”) – to help with one’s strength.


哭

→ Vietnamese: khóc (哭, 泣)

In oracle bone inscriptions, ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 吅 (“loudly”) + person with long hair (Similar to 老 without the cane) – "cry; weep". The pictogram of the person with long hair corrupted into 犬. Evidence suggests 吅 could be an abbreviation of the sound component 咢 (OC *ŋaːɡ), making the character phono-semantic (形聲／形声).
Shuowen Jiezi interprets it as a phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ŋ̊ʰoːɡ): semantic 吅 (“to speak loudly”) + abbreviated phonetic 獄 (OC *ŋoɡ).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *kuːk (“to weep; to wail”); cognate with Mizo kûk (“to shriek”) (STEDT).
This seems to be an area word; compare Proto-Mon-Khmer *kuk ~ kuuk ~ kuək ~ kək (“to call”), Proto-Austronesian *-kuk (“sound of a sob”) (Schuessler, 2007).


喫

/t͡ɕʰi̯a̠²⁴/

/t͡ɕʰi̯a̠²⁴/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ŋ̊ʰeːɡ): semantic 口 (“mouth”) + phonetic 契 (OC *kʰeːds, *kʰeːd, *kʰeːd, *kʰɯd).

Han compound

Alternative form of 吃 (“to eat; to suffer”)


嚨

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *roːŋ): semantic 口 (“mouth”) + phonetic 龍 (OC *b·roŋ, *mroːŋ).


娶

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *sʰloʔ, *sʰlos, *slo): phonetic 取 (OC *sʰloːʔ, *sʰloʔ) + semantic 女.
Exoactive of 取 (OC *sʰloːʔ, *sʰloʔ, “to take; to obtain; to collect; to fetch”) (Schuessler, 2007). Compare the etymology of 嫁.
In Min Nan, the vernacular reading is instead from 𤆬 (chhōa, “to lead; to guide”).

och-l

娶老婆

"If you marry her, you must love her. If you do not love her, why marry her? Marrying her and not loving her—this is something I cannot permit!"

“nei⁵ cou² zo² keoi⁵ zau⁶ jat¹ ding⁶ jiu³ oi³ keoi⁵. nei⁵ m⁴ oi³ keoi⁵ jau⁶ ho⁴ bit¹ cou² keoi⁵ ne¹? nei⁵ cou² zo² keoi⁵ ji⁴ m⁴ oi³ keoi⁵; ci² si⁶ sai⁶ naan⁴ wan⁵ heoi²!”

「你娶咗佢就一定要愛佢。你唔愛佢又何必娶佢呢？你娶咗佢而唔愛佢；此事誓難允許！」

「你娶咗佢就一定要爱佢。你唔爱佢又何必娶佢呢？你娶咗佢而唔爱佢；此事誓难允许！」


嬸

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *hljɯmʔ): semantic 女 (“woman”) + phonetic 審 (OC *hljɯmʔ).
Monosyllabic fusion of 叔母 (MC syuwk muwX, “father's younger brother + wife”).

ltc-l

paternal aunt (wife of father's younger brother)


屢

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ros): semantic 尸 + phonetic 婁 (OC *ɡ·roː, *ɡ·ro).


夕

Characters in the same phonetic series (夕) (Zhengzhang, 2003)
Pictogram (象形) — moon crescent. Compare to its ancient variant 月.
Related to 汐 (OC *ljaːɡ, “evening tide”).
Schuessler (2007) suggests it is from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-r(j)ak (“day; full day; to spend the night”); cognate with Tibetan ཞག (zhag, “day (24 hours)”), Mizo riak (“to pass the night”), Jingpho [script needed] (jaʔ⁵⁵, “day (24 hours)”), Burmese ရက် (rak, “day (24 hours)”), Lahu há (“night; to pass the night”); may also be cognate with 宿 (OC *suɡs, *suɡ, “to spend the night”) and 昔 (OC *sjaːɡ, “former times”). It is noted that in the oracle bone script, the 24 hour day started and ended some time in the evening or night. Since 日 (rì, “sun”) has acquired the meaning of "day (24 hours)", 夕 was then restricted to the time of the day's end.
On the other hand, STEDT suggests 夕 (OC *ljaːɡ, “evening; night”) was derived from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ja-n (“night”), from which 夜 (OC *laːɡs, “night”) was also derived. However, 夕 was also compared to Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-r(j)ak (“day; full day; to spend the night”). Schuessler (2007) assigns Chinese 夜 (yè) to *ja (“night”) instead, and notes *ja (“night”) and *ryak (“day (24 hours)”) were kept strictly separate in Tibeto-Burman.

och-l

Woe to us soldiers on these expeditions! Morning and evening we have no rest.

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

哀我征夫、朝夕不暇。

What night is tonight, that I take a boat into the stream? What day is today, that I get to share a boat with a prince?

Jīnxī hé xī xī, qiān zhōu zhōngliú. Jīnrì hérì xī, dé yǔ wángzǐ tóng zhōu.

今夕何夕兮，搴舟中流。今日何日兮，得與王子同舟。

今夕何夕兮，搴舟中流。今日何日兮，得与王子同舟。

GT - General Taiwanese (no particular region identified)


廟

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (廟):
* → Japanese: 廟(びょう) (byō)
* → Korean: 묘(廟) (myo)
* → Vietnamese: miếu (廟)

→ Proto-Be: *miːwᴮꟲ²

Lingao: miu⁴

desc

→ Lü: ᦶᦖᧁᧈ (ṁaew¹)

→ Lü: ᦶᦖᧁᧈ (ṁaew¹)

/miːu̯²²⁻³⁵/

/ᵐbiau³²⁻³²⁵/

/miːu̯²²⁻³⁵/

/ᵐbiau³²⁻³²⁵/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *mrews): semantic 广 + phonetic 朝 (OC *ʔr'ew, *r'ew).
Possibly related to Proto-Hmong-Mien *prəuX (“house”), whence White Hmong tsev (“idem”) (Schuessler, 2007). Note also Burmese မြို့ (mrui., “town, city”).

Han compound

(architecture, religion) temple (Classifier: 座; 間／间)

廟小妖風大，池淺王八多／庙小妖风大，池浅王八多

miào xiǎo yāofēng dà, chí qiǎn wángbā duō


悔

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *hmɯːʔ, *hmɯːs): semantic 忄 + phonetic 每 (OC *mɯːʔ).

Han compound

(literary, or in compounds) to repent; to show remorse; to regret


斧

Characters in the same phonetic series (父) (Zhengzhang, 2003)
Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *paʔ): phonetic 父 (OC *paʔ, *baʔ) + semantic 斤 (“axe”)
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *r-pʷa (“axe”) (STEDT). Cognate with Garo rua (“axe”), Jingpho nwa, ningwa (“axe”), Tangut 𘟬 (*wjị¹, “axe”), Japhug tɯrpa (“axe”).


曆

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *reːɡ): phonetic 厤 (OC *reːɡ) + semantic 日 (“sun; day”).
Derivative, meaning "calendar" < "calendrical calculations" (Shu), of 歷 (OC *rêk) "to calculate". See there for more.


杏

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 木 (“wood”) + 口 (“mouth”) – perhaps referring to the tastiness of its fruit.
Shuowen considers it to be a phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡraːŋʔ): semantic 木 (“wood”) + abbreviated phonetic 可 (OC *kʰaːlʔ), but this is unlikely.


楝

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡ·reːns): semantic 木 (“tree”) + phonetic 柬 (OC *kreːnʔ).

Han compound

Melia azedarach
Melia azedarach#Translingual

bead tree (Melia azedarach, formerly known as Melia japonica), a tree in the mahogany family


柿

→ Proto-Mien: *djəiᴮ

/t͡sʰiː¹³⁻³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː¹³⁻³⁵/

Originally written as 柹: Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *zrɯʔ): semantic 木 + phonetic 𠂔 ().
The current form is phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *zrɯʔ): semantic 木 + phonetic 市 (OC *djɯʔ).


毯

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *l̥ʰaːmʔ): semantic 毛 + phonetic 炎 (OC *ɦlam).


珓

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kreːws): semantic 𤣩 (“jade”) + phonetic 交 (OC *kreːw).

Han compound

(divination) moon blocks (divination device)


甦

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): from 更生 (“to be reborn”).
From *s- (“causative prefix”) + a root **ŋˤa, the latter found in 寤 (OC *ŋˤa-s, “to awake”), 悟 (OC *ŋˤa-s, “to awake; to realize”) (Baxter and Sagart, 2014; Schuessler, 2007).
Alternatively, Zhang, Jacques, and Lai (2019) compare it to Japhug sŋa (“to come to oneself”), Cogtse Situ [Term?] (kə-mə-sŋâr, “to feel cold”), Brag-bar Situ [Term?] (kə-mə-sŋiɛ̂r, “to come to oneself”).

cog

(literary) to revive; to resuscitate; to regain consciousness


痠

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *sloːn): semantic 疒 (“illness; disease”) + phonetic 夋 (OC *sʰlun).


痧

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声): semantic 疒 (“illness; disease”) + phonetic 沙 (OC *sraːl, *sraːls).

traditional Chinese medicine
traditional Chinese medicine

(traditional Chinese medicine or dialectal) acute illness, such as heatstroke, cholera, and measles


碑

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *pre): semantic 石 (“stone”) + phonetic 卑 (OC *pe).

Han compound

墓碑

界碑

紀念碑

纪念碑


箏

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (箏):
* → Japanese: 箏(そう) (sō)
* → Korean: 쟁(箏) (jaeng)
* → Vietnamese: tranh (箏)

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ʔsreːŋ): semantic 竹 (“bamboo”) + phonetic 爭 (OC *ʔsreːŋ).

Han compound

古箏

古筝


窗

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (窗):
* → Korean: 창(窓) (chang)
* → Vietnamese: song (窗)

→ Zhuang: cueng

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰɔŋ³³⁻³³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy̯æn³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/tʰɔŋ³³⁻³³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy̯æn³³/

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 穴 (“hole”) + 囱 (“window”).
From circumstantial noun prefix *s- + 通 (OC l̥ˤoŋ, “to penetrate”), literally "where light penetrates" (Baxter and Sagart, 2014).

Han compound

窻
䆫
窓
牕
*囪
囱
牎
𤗄
𪺠
𤗉
𮈾
𡆧

窗簾

窗帘

打開個窗

打开个窗


粽

→ Thai: จ้าง (jâang)

/t͡sʊŋ³³⁻³⁵/

/t͡sʊŋ³³⁻³⁵/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ʔsoːŋs): semantic 米 (“rice”) + phonetic 宗 (OC *ʔsuːŋ).
First attested in Fengsu Tongyi (195). Bencao Gangmu claimed it was derived from 棕 (zōng, “palm tree”) due to similar shapes of zongzi and palm tree leaves.

Han compound

zongzi (dumpling made of glutinous rice, wrapped in leaves) (Classifier: 隻／只 c)


耘

Related to Tibetan ཡུར་མ (yur ma, “weeding”), Kurtöp [script needed] (wer, “to weed”) (Schuessler, 2007, 2024).


舀

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意): 爪 (“hand”) + 臼 (“mortar, vessel”).
Related to 揄 (OC *l'oː, *l'oːʔ, *lu, *lo, “to scoop out”) (Schuessler, 2007). Compare Mizo lâwk, lawh (“to scoop up; to shovel up”), Mon ဂၠံက် (“to scoop up; to scoop out”) (Schuessler, 2007).

och-l

𦥝
𤔘
抌
抭
㧒
𦥟
𦥞
𦥨
𥦶
𦥵
𦦌

With an arbitrary swing of a club, a roe deer may get knocked down; fish can be ladled straight from the river. Frightened pheasants even sometimes fly into the wok while scurrying away. (a proverb depicting superior and plentiful natural resources)

bàng dǎ páozi piáo yǎo yú, yějī fēijìn fànguō lǐ

棒打麅子瓢舀魚，野雞飛進飯鍋裏

棒打狍子瓢舀鱼，野鸡飞进饭锅里


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.


蓆

/t͡sʰioʔ¹²¹/

/t͡sʰioʔ¹²¹/

woven mat made of bamboo strips or grass


蓖

Only used in 蓖麻 (bìmá, “castor oil plant”).


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)


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


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)


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”).


蜈

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


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。


蝴

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


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


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


褂

/kʷʰaː³³⁻³⁵/

/kʷʰaː³³⁻³⁵/

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


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).


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)

GT - General Taiwanese (no specific region identified)


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)


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)


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


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).


豺

/t͡sʰaːi̯²¹/

/t͡sʰaːi̯²¹/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *zrɯː): semantic 豸 (“creature”) + phonetic 才 (OC *zlɯː, *zlɯːs).

Han compound

When the dhole sacrificed its prey, the hunting commenced.

豺祭獸，然後田獵。

豺祭兽，然后田猎。

豺狼

豺狗


跺

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声): semantic 足 (“foot”) + phonetic 朵 (OC *toːlʔ).


銼

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *sʰoːls, *zoːl, *zoːɡ): semantic 金 + phonetic 坐 (OC *zoːlʔ, *zoːls).


靴

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *hʷa): semantic 革 (“leather”) + phonetic 化 (OC *hŋʷraːls).

Han compound

鞾
𩎁
韡
𩍇
𡲲
㞜
𩋖
𩋾
𩍍


韭

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴/

/t͡ɕi̯əu̯⁴¹/

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴/

/t͡ɕi̯əu̯⁴¹/

Pictogram (象形) – leek in the ground (一). Unrelated to 非.

Allium tuberosum
Allium tuberosum#Translingual

garlic chives; Chinese chives; Chinese leek (Allium tuberosum)


雹

⇒ Zhuang: lwgbag

/tʰɔk̚³²⁻²¹/

/tʰɔk̚³²⁻²¹/

Characters in the same phonetic series (勹) (Zhengzhang, 2003)
Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *bruːɡ): semantic 雨 (“rain”) + phonetic 包 (OC *pruː).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *m-bru(ŋ/k) (“dragon; thunder”), whence also 龍 (OC *b·roŋ, *mroːŋ, “dragon”) (STEDT).


騾

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *roːl): semantic 馬 (“horse”) + phonetic 累 (OC *ruːls, *rolʔ, *rols). Written as 驘 in Shuowen.

Han compound

骡
*驘
*臝
䯁
𩦻
𩧣

Viscount Jian of Zhao had two white mules which he liked very much.

Lü Buwei, Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals, 239 BCE

Zhào Jiǎnzǐ yǒu liǎng bái luó ér shèn ài zhī.

趙簡子有兩白騾而甚愛之。

赵简子有两白骡而甚爱之。

mule (offspring of a donkey and a horse, sometimes specifically the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse) (Classifier: 匹 m; 頭／头 m; 隻／只 mn)


驢

→ Vietnamese: lừa

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

Han compound

donkey; ass (Classifier: 頭／头 m; 條／条 m; 匹 m; 隻／只 c mn)


鯽

Carassius auratus
Carassius auratus#Translingual


鷥

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *slɯ): phonetic 絲 (OC *slɯ) + semantic 鳥 (“bird”)


鷺

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *raːɡs): phonetic 路 (OC *ɡ·raːɡs) + semantic 鳥 (“bird”).
Compare Khmer ក្រក (krɑɑk, “species of heron”), Thai ร้า (ráa, “species of heron”) (Schuessler, 2007).


鸚

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *qreːŋ): phonetic 嬰 (OC *qeŋ) + semantic 鳥 (“bird”).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ɣrēŋ (“a kind of parrot”); cognate with Jingpho [script needed] (ukhriŋ¹, “small parrot”) (Peiros & Starostin, 1996).


鱉

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ped): phonetic 敝 (OC *beds, *bed) + semantic 魚.

Han compound

Pelodiscus sinensis
Wikispecies:Pelodiscus sinensis

soft-shell turtle (any turtle in the family Trionychidae, especially Pelodiscus sinensis)


鴉

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *qraː): phonetic 牙 (OC *ŋraː) + semantic 鳥 (“bird”).
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ka-n (“crow”). Doublet of 烏 (OC *qaː, “crow; raven”) . The Middle Chinese of 鴉 retains the earlier vowel.
Schuessler (2007) disputes Old Chinese reconstructions with medial *-r-, reasoning that 鴉's place among Division II syllables (often from Old Chinese syllables containing *-r-) results rather from archaism which preserves the original vowel's quality.

Han compound

Men eat animals that have been fed on grain and grass; elaphures feed on the thick-set grass; centipedes enjoy small snakes; owls and crows delight in mice; but does any one of the four know the right taste?

Zhuangzi, circa 3ʳᵈ – 2ⁿᵈ centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Mín shí chúhuàn, mílù shí jiàn, jíqiě gān dài, chīyā qí shǔ, sì zhě shú zhī zhèngwèi?

民食芻豢，麋鹿食薦，蝍且甘帶，鴟鴉耆鼠，四者孰知正味？

民食刍豢，麋鹿食荐，蝍且甘带，鸱鸦耆鼠，四者孰知正味？

Withered vines, an old tree, evening crows; small bridges, flowing stream, family houses.

13ᵗʰ century – 14ᵗʰ century, 馬致遠 (Ma Zhiyuan), 秋思 (Autumn Thoughts)

Kūténg lǎoshù hūnyā, xiǎoqiáo liúshuǐ rénjiā.

枯藤老樹昏鴉，小橋流水人家。

枯藤老树昏鸦，小桥流水人家。


鷹

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意) and phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *qɯŋ): phonetic 䧹 (OC *qɯŋ, “eagle; hawk”) + semantic 鳥 (“bird”).
This word is possibly related to Proto-Sino-Tibetan *g-la(ŋ/k) (“bird of prey”), which is likely a loan from Proto-Mon-Khmer *laŋ ~ *laaŋ ~ *laiŋ (“large raptor”) > Proto-Bahnaric *klaːŋ (“hawk”), Proto-Palaungic *klaːŋ (“kite”), Mon လနေၚ် (“kite”), Khmer ខ្លែង (khlaeng, “kite”); within Tibeto-Burman, compare Tibetan གླག (glag, “eagle; vulture”), Burmese လင်းတ (lang:ta., “vulture”), Jingpho lang (“bird of the falcon family”) (Benedict, 1972; STEDT).
This word agrees better with Tibetan སྐྱིང་སེར (skying ser, “eagle; vulture”) if the Old Chinese is reconstructed as *s-ki̯əŋ (Benedict, 1990; Schuessler, 2007); Benedict (1976) reconstructs Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-kiŋ for this, which Benedict (1990) suggests is the native Sino-Tibetan root.

cog

禿鷹／秃鹰

雀鷹／雀鹰 ― quèyīng ― sparrowhawk

貓頭鷹／猫头鹰

1919, 《新舊約全書：官話和合譯本》 [Mandarin Bible, Union Version], Shanghai: American Bible Society, 以賽亞書 [Isaiah] 40:31:

but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint. [World English Bible]

Dàn nà děnghòu yēhéhuá de, bì zhòngxīn délì, tāmen bì rú yīng zhǎnchì shàngténg, tāmen bēnpǎo què bù kùnjuàn, xíngzǒu què bù pífá.

但那等候耶和華的、必重新得力、他們必如鷹展翅上騰、他們奔跑卻不困倦、行走卻不疲乏。

但那等候耶和华的、必重新得力、他们必如鹰展翅上腾、他们奔跑却不困倦、行走却不疲乏。

bird of prey of Accipitriformes (eagles, hawks, kites, vultures), Falconiformes (falcons), or Strigiformes (owls)


鵝

→ Guiqiong: wo

/ᵑɡᵘɔ²²⁻²²⁵/

/ᵑɡᵘɔ²²⁻²²⁵/

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ŋaːl): phonetic 我 (OC *ŋaːlʔ) + semantic 鳥.
From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ŋa-n (“goose”); cognate with Tibetan ངང་པ (ngang pa), Burmese ငန်း (ngan:). However, the final consonants of the proposed cognates are possibly irreconcilable; they could instead be independently coined through onomatopoeia (Schuessler, 2007; Hill, 2019).
Related to 雁 (OC *ŋraːns, “wild goose”); see there for more.

Han compound

domestic goose (as opposed to a wild goose – 雁 (yàn)) (Classifier: 隻／只 m c mn)


𠍲

(literary or dialectal) Alternative form of 渠 (qú, “third-person pronoun; he, she, it”)