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An Etymological Dictionary of Chinese Characters
Interpretations by Lawrence J. Howell and Hikaru Morimoto |
| Covering 6,500 Chinese characters as used in Japan |
Word Family of Terms Originally Pronounced KUANG
Semantic Values of the Sound KUANG:
Frame + (Curving/Round) + Extension
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The terms in this word family add the nuance of curvature or roundness to the KANG family theme of Frame + Extension.
In 光 we find a circular halo of light given off by a torch held above the head, the light extending a great distance. 黄 combines 光 with an arrow, a flaming arrow being another manner of extending light over a great distance. Compound characters with the element 黄 also involve extension through space: long bars in 横, wide halls in 廣/広, and ore scattered through the ground in 鑛/鉱. The top element seen in 榮, 螢 and 營 (the previous forms of 栄, 蛍 and 営) also refers to firelight covering a wide area. In 榮/栄 the extension refers to flowers about a tree, an idea that also appears in 櫻/桜.
Among other forms taken by extension and/or curvature of a framing object are 王 (ruler who spans heaven and earth), 永 (water dividing into numerous tributaries), 弓 (long bow), 兄 (large-headed child), and 雄 (bird spreading its wings).
Among the non-Everyday Use Characters, we find the following examples:
A border sign in a remote region, or the remote land itself (冂, 坰)
Light extending a great distance (冏, 炯, 晃, 旺, 煌, 瓊)
A halo, or ring of light (瑩, 熒)
A wad of lustrous silk (絖, 纊)
A garment covering the body (絅)
A broad expanse of space (曠, 弘, 宏, 壙, 塋, 閎)
Objects at a great distance from each other (夐)
An expansive structure (黌)
A widespread bamboo grove (篁)
A surrounding moat (邕, 隍)
Surround in entangling (縈)
Wrap gently about an object (雍)
Command a sweeping view (頃)
A circular range of mountains (嶸)
An expanse of water (滉, 洸, 汪, 泓, 泂, 潢, 浤)
A rounded cloth stretched over a frame (幌)
An expanding internal organ (胱)
Spreading within the confines of a container or frame (匡, 框, 筐, 壅)
A pot or jar that is broad in the middle (罌)
A container with prepared food inside (饔)
A wide goblet (觥)
Vegetation stretched by a strong wind (枉)
Wandering widely, or becoming distant (徨, 迥, 遑, 偟)
Locusts that cover a broad area (蝗)
A large fish (鰉)
An oblong/roundish creature (蠑)
A large, ceremonial weapon (鍠)
A bending elbow (肱)
Bowleggedness (尩)
A string/cord wrapped about the head (肱)
Cry produced by a bird or human that radiates far and wide (鶯, 咏)
Sound produced by a musical instrument that radiates far and wide (簧)
Extensions of meaning or abstract applications of the senses noted above are found in the remaining characters in this group.
擁 (16) ヨウ
雝 combines 邕 moated village + 隹 short, squat bird → wetlands/marsh (curving stretch of land where birds find sanctuary). 擁 combines 手 hand/action indicator + 雍 (Type 1 Phonetic), originally a variant of 雝 → protect a bird, either in a cage or a human's embrace (compare 惸) → hold.
光 (6) コウ；ひかり；ひか（る） S/B 
S/B combines a person + 火 fire → person extending a torch above the head, creating a long-stretching arc of light → shine → ray; beam; flash; glimmer; glitter; glare; sparkle.
黄 (11) コウ；オウ；き；き（ばむ） Formerly  BIS 
BIS combines an arrow + an abbreviated form of 光 (Type 8 Phonetic) (long stretch of light) → arrowhead dipped in oil or animal fat, which flames as it stretches far through the air → yellow (← color of the flames).
横 (15) オウ；よこ Formerly 
As per (the previous form of) 黄 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 木 tree/wood → bars extending at length → side; horizontal → width; breadth; woof (thread); lie/lay down.
広 (5) コウ；ひろ（い・がる・げる・まる・める・やか） Formerly 廣
As per the previous form of 黄 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 广 building → building with wide/broad halls → extensive; spacious; vast; spread; widespread; stretch; enlarge → be popular (← widespread popularity).
鉱 (13) コウ Formerly 鑛 Alternate Forms 砿 礦
黄 (Type 1 Phonetic) yellow + 金 metal → ore; mineral (← sparkling yellow stones scattered through the earth; compare 金). The use of 广 in 鑛 owes to confusion with 廣, the previous form of 広.
王 (4) オウ S/B 
S/B is a person stretching from earth (bottom line) to heaven (top line) → king (← ruler who spans heaven and earth, bringing them into harmony; compare 君 and 帝).
狂 (7) キョウ；くる（う） Alternate Form 抂
As per 王 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 犬 dog/beast → dog that runs wild (compare 戻 and 猛) → mad; crazy → manic; enthusiastic. Also, function improperly (← fail to act normally).
往 (8) オウ S/B  SIS  Alternate Form 徃
SIS is 王 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + a stylized form of a S/B depiction of a moving leg (compare 之) + 彳 movement (for further emphasis) → proceed decisively → go; gone → past. There is no etymological connection between 往 and 主.
皇 (9) コウ；オウ
王 (Type 1 Phonetic) (ruler who stretches from earth to heaven) + an abbreviated form of 自 self, functioning as described in 皆 (the nose being the first part that appears in normal childbirth; here, suggesting "founder") → founder of an imperial dynasty → emperor.
永 (5) エイ；なが（い） S/B 
S/B is a pictograph of flowing water splitting off into numerous distributaries and stretching far into the distance → long period of time; everlasting; forever.
泳 (8) エイ；およ（ぐ）
As per 永 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 水 water → float on water at length → swim.
詠 (12) エイ；よ（む）
As per 永 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 言 words → chant/recite a poem by prolonging one's voice.
兄 (5) ケイ；キョウ；あに S/B 
S/B is a pictograph of a kneeling figure with a large head → elder brother (← comparatively larger and therefore older sibling ← large).
況 (8) キョウ Alternate Form 况
As per 兄 (Type 1 Phonetic) (large in comparison) + 水 water → comparatively more water than before → situation (← new situation ← conjunction meaning "fiercer degree than before").
弓 (3) キュウ；ゆみ S/B  BIS  SIS 
S/B, BIS and SIS are pictographs of a drawn bow.
雄 (12) ユウ；お；おす SIS of 厷 
SIS of 厷 combines a hand and a bending line representing an elbow. 雄 is 厷 (Type 1 Phonetic) (extension) + 隹 short, squat bird → male bird spreading its wings to display authority → male; strong; brave; manly.
栄 (9) エイ；さか（える）；は（える） Formerly 榮
The top element (Type 1 Phonetic) of the previous form is 火 fire (doubled) + 冖 cover → fire that stretches about a wide area. 榮 adds 木 tree/wood → flowers that blossom about a tree → thrive; flourish; be attractive; be conspicuous; be brilliant → prosper; boom; shine; glory.
蛍 (11) ケイ；ほたる Formerly 螢
螢 is as per the top element (Type 1 Phonetic) of 栄 (stretch about) + 虫 insect → firefly (groups of which produce an encircling glow). Compare the idea of illumination in 営.
営 (12) エイ；いとな（む） Formerly 營
營 is as per the top element (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 栄 (stretch about) + an abbreviated form of 官 (wrap about/enclose) → circular military encampment (compare 軍), illuminated by torchlight (compare the idea of illumination in 蛍) → camp; barracks → conduct (business); perform; build (← set up camp).
桜 (10) オウ；さくら Formerly 櫻
嬰 (Type 4 Phonetic) encircle + 木 tree/wood → flowering blossoms stretching about a tree (compare 栄) → variety of plum tree → cherry tree; red; pink.
傾 (13) ケイ；かたむ（く・ける）
頃 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch about) + 人 person → tilt; incline (← stretch to one side) → lean; list (to one side); slant → sink; decline; concentrate (on) (← incline one's head toward a desk) → squander; ruin (← decline). 傾 was devised to replace 頃.
冂 (2) キョウ；ケイ S/B 
S/B is a pictograph of a sign marking a border in a remote region → distant. BIS adds an element indicating a particular place, creating the variant form 冋. This latter element eventually dropped, so that 冂 closely resembles the original pictograph.
冏 (7) キョウ；ケイ；ソウ
八 divide right and left + 冋 (Type 8 Phonetic) as described in 冂, here an abbreviated form of 炯 bright/clear → bright enough to be visible from multiple directions → clear.
坰 (8) キョウ；ケイ
冋 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 冂 (remote border) + 土 earth → remote lands.
炯 (9) キョウ；ケイ Alternate Form 烱
冋 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 冂 (remote border) + 火 fire → border post fire → bright; clear (← fire clearly visible even at a great distance).
邕 (10) ヨウ
巛 (Type 2 Phonetic) a variant of 川 river + 邑 village/settlement → river/waterway that surrounds a village → moated village.
頃 (11) ケイ；ころ
頁 head + an abbreviated form (Type 8 Phonetic) of 化 transformation → stretch the neck about, commanding a sweeping view → for a moment/short time (← swiftly changing focus) → lately/recently; (vague period of) time (← moment).
穎 (16) エイ Alternate Form 頴
As per 頃 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch about) + 禾 grain/rice → tips of the ears/spikes of a grain plant (stretching about) → outstanding (← be prominent ← tip of a spike).
晃 (10) コウ Alternate Form 晄
As per 光 (Type 1 Phonetic) (long stretch of light) + 日 sun/day → pervasive, dazzling sunshine (compare 曠 and 旺) that stretches far → shining; clear.
幌 (13) コウ；ほろ
As per 晃 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 巾 cloth → rounded cloth stretched over a frame → canopy; cloth screen; curtain. Also, (soft) vehicle roof.
滉 (13) コウ
As per 晃 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 水 water → deep, wide expanse of water. Compare 洸 and 汪.
胱 (10) コウ
As per 光 (Type 1 Phonetic) (long stretch of light) + 肉 flesh → bladder (← expanding internal organ; compare 膀).
曠 (19) コウ Alternate Form 昿
As per 廣 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 広 (stretch far) + 日 sun/day → pervasive sunlight (compare 晃 and 旺) → spacious → emptiness (← empty space).
匡 (6) キョウ
As per 王 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 匚 enclosure/frame → spread within a container → reform; correct (← spread and conform to the contours of a containing object) → assist; save (← aid in reforming/correcting).
框 (10) キョウ；かまち
As per 匡 (Type 1 Phonetic) (spread within a container or the confines of a frame) + 木 tree/wood → wooden frame (of a door or window) → threshold; sill.
旺 (8) オウ
As per 王 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 日 sun/day → pervasive sunlight (compare 晃 and 曠) → flourishing; prosperous (← expansive; compare 郁).
枉 (8) オウ；ま（げて）
As per 王 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 木 tree/wood → strong wind (compare 凰) stretching tree branches out of shape → distort; bend; force (v.). Also, perverse and in vain.
凰 (11) オウ；コウ；おおとり
As per 皇 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + an abbreviated form of 風 wind (here suggesting a force blowing far and wide) → a mythical (female) bird regarded as the ruler of the avian world → female phoenix. Compare 鳳.
徨 (12) コウ
As per 皇 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 彳 movement → wander widely.
煌 (13) コウ
As per 皇 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 火 fire → firelight that spreads in all directions → bright; glittering; gleaming.
蝗 (15) コウ；いなご
As per 皇 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 虫 insect → variety of locust (← insect that ranges over a wide area).
弘 (5) コウ
As per 厶 (bent elbow) + 弓 (Type 1 Phonetic) bow → draw a bow tight → wide; big; widen; broaden; spread. Compare 宏.
宏 (7) コウ
As per 厷 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 雄 (extension) + 宀 roof/building → extend the parameters of a building → wide; vast; grand. Compare 弘.
肱 (8) コウ；ひじ
厷 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 雄 (hand + a bending line → elbow) + 肉 flesh → elbow. 肉 is for clarification.
紘 (10) コウ
As per 厷 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 雄 (extension) + 糸 thread → string or cord (wrapped around one's head) → rope; stretch (a rope). Broad is a borrowed meaning.
鶯 (21) オウ；うぐいす
As per the top element (Type 1 Phonetic) of the previous form of 栄 (stretch about) + 鳥 bird → bush warbler (← bird with a powerful call that radiates far and wide).
尢 (3) オウ
Pictograph of a bent (human) leg → bend; lame.
壅 (16) ヨウ；ふさ（ぐ）
As per 雍 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch about) + 土 earth → earthen walls that stretch about and confine → obstruct; block in/off.
誑 (14) キョウ；たぶら（かす）；たら（す）
狂 (Type 1 Phonetic) crazy + 言 words → nonsense → deceive; swindle (← deceive/swindle others with nonsensical words).
筐 (12) キョウ；かたみ Alternate Form 筺
As per 匡 (Type 1 Phonetic) (spread within a container or the confines of a frame) + 竹 bamboo → bamboo basket.
洸 (9) コウ
As per 光 (Type 1 Phonetic) (long stretch of light) + 水 water → widespread water. Compare 滉 and 汪.
絖 (12) コウ；ぬめ；わた
As per 光 (Type 1 Phonetic) (long stretch of light) + 糸 thread → a wad of silk floss (compare 纊) → lustrous silk.
迥 (9) ケイ；ギョウ；はる（か）
冋 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 冂 (remote border) + 辵 movement → (solitary object) far in the distance; distant → widely separated.
絅 (11) ケイ
冋 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 冂 (remote border) + 糸 thread → unlined garment that covers the entire body.
汪 (7) オウ
As per 王 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 水 water → widespread water; great volume (of water; compare 滉 and 洸). Also, a large pond (← water-filled depression).
惶 (12) コウ；おそ（れる）
As per 皇 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 心 heart/emotions → be anxious (← unsettled feeling; compare 遑 and 惸) → fear. Compare also 懼.
篁 (15) コウ；たかむら；たけ
As per 皇 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 竹 bamboo → (widespread) bamboo grove. Also, a large variety of bamboo.
遑 (13) コウ；いとま
As per 皇 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 辵 movement → be at great leisure to wander widely. Also, be anxious (compare 惶).
隍 (12) コウ
As per 皇 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 阜 piled earth → (extensive) dry moat.
鰉 (20) コウ；ひがい
As per 皇 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 魚 fish → sturgeon (← large variety of fish). In Japan, the character can also refer to a variety of carp.
壙 (18) コウ；あな
As per 廣 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 広 (stretch far) + 土 earth → open wilderness → deserted; empty; hole; pit → grave.
纊 (21) コウ Alternate Form 絋
As per 廣 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 広 (stretch far) + 糸 thread → (fluffy wad of) fine silk. Compare 絖.
黌 (25) コウ
As per the previous form of 黄 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) and as per the top element of 學 the previous form of 学 (place of instruction where knowledge is transmitted) → large school; school building (← fast-paced exchange of questions and answers; compare also 校).
塋 (13) エイ；はか
As per the top element (Type 1 Phonetic) of 栄 (stretch about) + 土 earth → cemetery (← encircled parcel of land set off from other land).
瑩 (15) エイ；あき（らか）；ひかり
As per the top element (Type 1 Phonetic) of 栄 (stretch about) + 玉 jewel → halo of light given off by jewels (compare 瓊) → clarity. Also, a stone as beautiful as a gem.
夐 (14) ケイ；はる（か）
Abbreviated form of 奐 (Type 8 Phonetic) (stretch the legs in giving birth) + 目 eye + 攵 action indicator → observe objects at a distant stretch from each other → be separated by a great distance; distant; far.
咏 (8) エイ；うた（う）
As per 永 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 口 mouth → utter a long, plaintive cry; prolong the voice in singing.
泓 (8) オウ
弘 (Type 1 Phonetic) wide + 水 water → wide (← widespread water).
罌 (20) オウ；かめ
Abbreviated form of 嬰 (Type 8 Phonetic) encircle + 缶 bulging earthenware jug/vase → small-mouthed pot/jar, wide in the middle (compare 壼).
雍 (13) ヨウ；ユ；やわら（ぐ）
Originally an abbreviated, alternate form of 雝 as described in 擁 (wetlands; marsh). Eventually, 雍 took on independent status with the extended meanings gently wrapped/enveloped and block off, via the idea of stretching about in confining (compare 壅).
縈 (16) エイ；ヨク；めぐ（らす・る）
As per the top element (Type 1 Phonetic) of 榮 the previous form of 栄 (stretch about) + 糸 thread → thread that encircles/winds about → surround; entwine; entangle.
尩 (8) オウ；よわ（い）
As per 王 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 尣 a variant of 尢 lame → bowlegged/lame person → weak.
恇 (9) キョウ；コウ
As per 匡 (Type 1 Phonetic) (spread within a container or the confines of a frame) + 心 heart/emotions → fear spreading over the heart.
貺 (12) キョウ；たま（う）
As per 兄 (Type 1 Phonetic) (large in comparison) + 貝 commodities → bestowal of a gift by a social superior → gift bestowed by a social superior.
泂 (8) ケイ
冋 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 冂 (remote border) + 水 water → expanse of water reaching far and wide → distant. Also, cold (← chilly waters).
扃 (9) ケイ
冋 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 冂 (remote border) + 戸 door → door serving as a border between a residence and the outside world. Eventually the term came to refer to a bolt/bar used to lock a door (compare 閂).
駉 (15) ケイ
冋 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 冂 (remote border) + 馬 horse → a strapping horse, native to remote locales.
熒 (14) ケイ；エイ
As per the top element (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 栄 (stretch about) + 火 fire → ring of fire in a lamplight → light; bright. Lead astray and be led astray are borrowed meanings.
褧 (16) ケイ；キョウ；ひとえ
耿 (Type 4 Phonetic) clear + 衣 clothing → unlined garment (← transparent material ← clear).
蠑 (20) エイ
As per 榮 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 栄 (stretch about) + 虫 insect → a roundish/oblong creature. The compound 蠑螺 refers to a turban shell, while 蠑螈 indicates a newt.
偟 (11) コウ；さまよ（う）
As per 皇 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 人 person → person who roams far and wide → wander. Compare 徨.
閎 (12) コウ；ひろ（い）
宏 (Type 1 Phonetic) wide + 門 gate → gate opening onto a wide, open space.
觥 (13) コウ
As per 光 (Type 1 Phonetic) (long stretch of light) + 角 horn → wide goblet made of rhino horn. Compare 觳.
潢 (15) コウ；オウ
As per the previous form of 黄 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 水 water → wide expanse of water → pond.
嶸 (17) コウ；エイ
As per 榮 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 栄 (stretch about) + 山 mountain → circular range of high mountains.
獷 (18) コウ
廣 (Type 8 Phonetic) the previous form of 広, here an abbreviated form of 壙 open wilderness + 犬 dog/beast → wild, undomesticated dog → uncivilized; coarse.
饔 (22) ヨウ
As per 雍 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch about) + 食 food/eating → (prepared) food in a container (← confine in a container ← stretch about) → boiled food; breakfast.
抂 (7) キョウ
Effectively an alternate form of 狂, replacing 犬 dog/beast with 手. The compound 抂攘 refers to a state of disorder.
惸 (12) ケイ；うれ（える）
The right-hand element (Type 1 Phonetic) combines 旬 (cycle/circle) + 子 child/small object → encircle a child in protection (compare the idea of protecting by enclosing in 擁). 惸 adds 心 heart/emotions → distress; anxiety (← fret over a child). Compare 惶.
鍠 (17) コウ
As per 皇 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 金 metal → a large, ceremonial weapon resembling a broad ax. The sound of bells and drums is a meaning properly appertaining to the compound 鍠鍠.
瓊 (18) ケイ；に
As per 夐 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 玉 jewel → a beautiful (red) jewel, which radiates light at a distance (compare 瑩).
浤 (10) コウ
宏 (Type 1 Phonetic) wide + 水 water → wide expanse of water.
簧 (18) コウ；した
As per the previous form of 黄 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stretch far) + 竹 bamboo → bamboo reed of a flute (from which sound is disseminated through space).
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Etymological Keypoints
This column of keypoints appears on each page of this online etymological dictionary of kanji, Chinese characters as used in Japan. For detailed information on any of the following topics, click the MORE hyperlinks to reach the appropriate sections of the Reference Page.
Types of Characters
Chinese characters are of three types: pictographs, ideographs and compound characters.
Pictographs
Pictographs are representations of concrete objects: moon, sun, river, mountain, bird, sword, mouth, hand and so on. Pictographs also account for nearly all of the radicals (or classifiers) as described below in the Compound Characters section. There are several hundred pictographs in all. MORE
Ideographs
The handful of ideographs among the Chinese characters convey abstract notions such as unity, concealment, extension etc. MORE
Compound Characters
Compound Characters are composed of two elements. The first element is a "radical" (or "classifier"). Character dictionaries assign nearly all characters to one of approximately 70 of these radicals.
The second element is a sound note, suggesting both the pronunciation and the meaning of the character. In a small number of compound characters the sound conveyed by the second element is anomalous, for which reason compound characters have traditionally been divided into phonetic compounds and semantic compounds.
MORE on Phonetic Compounds
MORE on Semantic Compounds
Phonetic elements (or sound notes) most often match that of the compound character precisely, such as 夬 KUAT and 決 KUAT. In other instances the initial or final consonants are altered: 甚 TAM and 勘 KAM; 胥 SAG and 婿 SAR. In a smaller number of cases the vowel is transposed: 而 NAG and 需 NUG. We also find phonetic elements functioning in other ways such as to convey onomatopoeic or mimetic sounds, to transliterate loan words and so on. There are eight types of sound notes in all. MORE
Word Formation In Proto-Chinese
This dictionary arranges Chinese characters according to word families of phonologically and semantically related terms. Building upon research undertaken by Bernhard Karlgren and Akiyasu Todo, the earliest sounds of the terms in proto-Chinese are reconstructed along the pattern Consonant-Vowel-Consonant. MORE
Initial consonants are K, L, M, N, P, S and T. The vowel in most terms is something between short A and E, here rendered as A. The vowel may also be O or U, and a number of word families feature the medial glide UA. Final consonants are G/K, NG, M, N, P, R and T.
Semantic Function of Consonants
Each initial consonant suggests a broad semantic background for characters beginning with that consonant. Here are the semantic indicators for each initial consonant, followed by a partial selection of the kinds of terms found in each initial consonant network.
Initial K- = Frame: boxes and containers; foundations of buildings; cavities; enclosed passageways; shackles/handcuffs; square tools; crossroads; humans, gates and other objects framing each other by standing in opposition; nuts in shells, grain in husks, beans/peas in a pod, shellfish in shells and other objects in containers; yokes; molds; footwear and garments that contain the body in full or part
Initial L- = Continuum: footpaths; literal and figurative belts; strips of material; stripes; dripping, flowing or trickling water/liquid; linked waves; patterned grain of wood; chains/cables; lengths of rope; interwoven vegetation; furrows; stretching vines
Initial M- = Conceal: the sun concealed (by darkness, cloud cover, vegetation); threads, insects, and heads of grain that are fine/tiny to the point of near-invisibility; persons concealed by passing away; fish nets or traps concealed beneath the surface of the water; physical/figurative blindness; concealing grass/vegetation; concealing curtains or pieces of cloth
Initial N- = Supple: supple female bodies; supple body parts (ears, earlobes, droopy beard); vegetation/food softened/made supple by being heated; cloth/fabric softened in liquid; bodies wasted/softened by illness; swordblades and other flexible weapons; clinginess; seals created from softened clay; pliable hides; vines and other supple objects that coil/twist about; gently bending arms and vegetation
Initial P- = Spread: goods spread for display/sale; food spread for a feast/meal; spreading leaves/vegetation; liquid/fragrance that spreads to right and left, or in all directions; liquid overflowing its container; hands spread to slap/strike, or to grip a handle; spreading wounds; spreading tiles; lightning spreading through the sky; waterplants spreading over the surface of water; sails and other types of spreading cloth; seeds spread through fields; pelts/fabric wrapped about the body; wings wrapped around a bird's body; sea creatures enveloped in shells; objects such as fabric or soft boards that spread in being folded back upon themselves
Initial S- = Small/Thin/Slender: piles of vegetation, plant matter, grain, food etc; piled rocks; piled earth; pile of wood shavings; objects that are cut/aligned irregularly; long or tall, slender objects such as masts, reeds, wells or fences; hairpins, phalluses, trails of liquid and other slender objects that penetrate tight spaces; fragments of metal, wood or bone; moss, coral, baby teeth and other small, tightly adhering objects; arrangements of small/fine objects such as thorns on a plant, birds in trees or sand on a beach; sheaves, wheel spokes converging in hubs, arrows compacted in a quiver and other tightly compressed objects
Initial T- = Straight: literal piles of objects such as firewood, meat, valuables or metal; figurative piles; lizards, snakes, wriggling insects and other straight creatures; the shuttle of a loom, a horizontal bar on a vehicle and other machines/machine parts that move in a straight line; straight movement in both vertical and horizontal directions; pipes, tubes, caverns and other straight, tubular objects; flames, gas, the sun and other rising objects
(Initial S terms represent a branch of the initial T group, emphasizing small/thin/slender applications of the idea of straightness.) MORE
Among the final consonants, the G/K ending suggests that the meaning of the character is directly connected with the main idea expressed by the initial consonant (see above). KAG/LAG/MAG/NAG/PAG/SAG/TAG and their final K variants KAK/LAK/MAK/NAK/PAK/SAK/TAK may be considered linguistic templates which the other finals modify to create more specific meanings for the relevant terms. Each of the remaining final consonants suggests a specific semantic nuance for the characters ending with that consonant. Here are the semantic indicators for each final consonant, followed by a partial selection of the kinds of terms found in each final consonant group.
Final -NG = Extend: bodies that stretch and/or go stiff; persons or objects standing in distant opposition; sound/fragrance drifting from one point to another, linking the two points in distant opposition; actions or processes that continue a long time, such as savoring food in the mouth, protracted spasms, lengthy songs or dramatic performances; endlessly flowing water; vegetation spreading out of sight; long strings of shells/jewels; writing/ornamentation spread at length over a surface; tall piles or long trails of objects; steam, vapor or gas that rises high in the air
Final -M = Encompass: people fallen into holes; food or other objects contained in the mouth; fruit encompassed by skin; grain encompassed by husks; objects covered by thick vegetation or by darkness; drenched objects; a fetus encompassed in a womb; needles, hairpins and other slender objects concealed in filling narrow spaces; cavities and containers filled with liquid
Final -N = Adhere/Be proximate: weapons contacting an enemy's body; contact of body parts with other objects; hunting/fishing implements contacting their targets; tightly knit groups of people, birds, fish and other creatures; tight rows of like objects; cloth tightly wrapped about (parts of) the body; roofs fit upon buildings; paired objects in close proximity; points of contact between land and water; proximate pieces of finely cut/chopped objects such as vegetation and food; objects lying flat on the ground
Final -P = Press: be pressed upon by attackers; objects sandwiched between others; objects exerting pressure downward, or directly upon the ground; tight compaction of like objects such as threads, insects or vegetation; human bodies pressing upon bedding or upon other human bodies
Final -R = Continuum: elongated objects such as garments or weapons; prolonged activity such as speech, prayer, singing, rituals, irrigation, erosion, carving, scraping, polishing or sharpening of knives; prolonged sensations such as reverberations, irritation or illness; continuous states or relationships such as human friendship, reverence of ancestors or the lasting effect of glue-like substances; neat lines of people or of objects such as eaves, fruit or footprints; abstract elongation such as in the slow passage of time
Final -T = Cut/Divide/Reduce: reduction in size by cutting of vegetation, carving of wood, or biting/chewing of food; division of objects such as in the splitting of logs or the ripping of cloth; reduction of empty space in objects such as rooms and containers, or in the covering of open space by vegetation or water; reduction in length such as in knotting a rope; reduction of darkness by the application of light; reduction of physical capacities on account of fatigue, illness, blindness or numbness; reduction of physical capacities of animals by trapping, tethering or penning them; reduction of emotional capacities on account of anger, distress or excitement MORE
Semantic Function of the O and U Vowels
The vowel O suggests the idea of curvature, sometimes extending to "curve and surround/envelop."The U vowel, when it is the lone vowel in a term (examples: KUG, LUG, SUG, TUNG) refers to a circle (whether full or nearly full) or to a bulky/lumpy mass. However, when the U vowel is employed as part of the diphthong UA (examples: KUAN/KUAR/KUAT, SUAN/SUAR/SUAT), the signification is most often the O vowel sense of curving/round.
Here are the semantic indicators for these vowels, followed by a partial selection of representative terms.
Vowel O = Curvature: backs bent with illness or age; tree branches or the necks of humans/animals bent with weight; contorted bodies; trees bent with decay; arched bridges; curved stretches of land or other natural phenomena such as caverns; winding constructions such as palaces and official buildings; birds or the sun curving into sight over the horizon; coiling vegetation, snakes or threads; curved movement such as in kneading or bending objects into shape, sweeping with a broom, or rowing a boat; bulging objects such as water jugs, gourds, pimples or pregnant bellies; curved objects such as eggs, nuts or colanders; objects with curved portions such as a swordblade, the hull of a boat, or a flag attached to a pole and flapping in the breeze; arcs formed by liquid poured from a container, or by humans/animals moving in a semi-circle
Vowel U = Circle/Mass: round objects such as baskets, huts or circular buildings; lumpy objects such as heads, hunched bodies, breasts; skin protuberances or tree stumps; massive objects such as pillars, ridgepoles, downed boars or heavy bells; crowds of people or swarms of insects/creatures; curved objects such as earthenware, roofs or animal horns; round cavities filled with fluid or occupied by bodies; circuitous trails, winding hills and other curved landscape features; masses of hair such as in topknots or shaggy dog fur; masses of grain/vegetation; heaps of food; tightly-massed inanimate objects such as ships in a harbor, spokes in a hub or precious stones in an accessory; objects compacted by hand or tightly grasped in the fist
Vowel UA = Curving/Round: melons; wings; hoops; baskets; round and tubular containers; pools of water; objects enclosed in the hands; crowns; arcs or halos of light; circular piles of vegetation; round fruit; barrels; revolving objects and other forms of rotating/circular movement; rounded mountain tops or hill peaks; round bundles of goods or of vegetation; curling of the fingertips or cupping of the hands; strips of cloth wrapped about and covering the eyes; bound objects such as scrolls and tablets; round fish eggs; blossoming buds; cylindrical tubes, skewers or blocks; puckering of the lips; persons or objects arranged in a circle; squatting figures; winding waterways or passages; round holes and tools for drilling round holes MORE
Sample Terms
Semantically related terms are by no means restricted to a single consonant network. Five kanji concerned with the humble pea or bean and their seed vessels (the pod) suggest why and how this is.
The KAP word family (Frame + Press) contains the character 莢, meaning "pod." Here, the twin sides of the seed vessel are visualized as framing elements that press against the peas or beans contained within.
In the KUAN word family (Frame + [Curving/Round] + Adhere/Be Proximate) we find 豌 ("pea"), referring to the round legumes contained in and adhering to the framing element, the pod.
The NAM word family (Supple + Encompass/Conceal) has 荏 "beans," that is, beans covered and hidden by a supple pod.
荅 "bean pod" belongs to the TAP word family (Straight + Press). Here, the emphasis is on the pod as a straight object the sides of which exert pressure upon the contents.
Finally, 荳 "bean" is a member of the TUG word family (Straight + Circle/Mass + Straight). In this case, the emphasis is on the round or lumpy shape of the bean contained in the straight object, the pod. MORE
Using the Dictionary
Hyperlinks to individual word families are located at the left side of this page. To look up individual characters, use the search box at top right or one of the four indices at the located at the top center of the page.
For ease of reference, characters presented within an etymology are hyperlinked to their full etymological explanation.
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Site Contents Copyright (C) 2004-2008 Lawrence J. Howell
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