Definitions

used in 亳州[bó zhōu] (the name of a place in Anhui)

Etymology

About

亳 is a proper noun and geographic name with a distinctive structure: the top component 亠, a middle section resembling the top of 高, and the bottom element 乇. Historically, it was created to designate an ancient Shang Dynasty capital, tying its origin to early Chinese political geography. Its formation does not follow the typical phono-semantic pattern for objects or concepts but functions as a specialized locational marker. The character’s usage is confined to historical geography and the names of administrative regions or modern cities descended from that ancient settlement.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern