Definitions
Etymology
Depicts clothing (衣) with intersecting lines indicating that the clothing is done being sewed. Based on the original meaning, "to finish sewing clothes". The meaning later shifted to "to finish" and "to die" while its other meaning "soldier" is a phonetic loan.
About
Historically, 卒 represented a servant or infantry soldier. Its current form features the radical 十 above the upper part of 众, originally depicting clothing marked to identify rank. The primary meaning refers to low-ranking soldiers or subordinates. This later expanded to include finishing or completing a task, which eventually became a euphemism for dying. The character thus evolved from a concrete noun for personnel to an abstract verb for reaching an end.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他去年从大学毕业。
这名年轻的士兵最终成为一名勇卒。
国际象棋中，保护王是卒的重要职责。
经过数年的努力，他的研究计划终于卒成。
在古代战争中，车、马、卒各司其职。
参军数年，他终于成为一名老卒。
这部小说以主角的暴卒作为结局，令人震惊。
历史的潮流下，小人物如卒子般无法主宰自己的命运。