Definitions

suàn to regard as; to figure

Etymology

About

The character 筭 is composed of the semantic bamboo radical 竹 on top and the component 弄 below. It originally referred to bamboo tally sticks or counting rods used for mathematical calculations and commerce. Since these instruments were traditionally made of bamboo, the upper radical indicates their material. Over time, its meaning extended from the physical tools to the abstract actions of calculating, computing, planning, and tallying. 筭 is a historical variant of the more common character 算, both sharing the same connection to early mathematical practices and bamboo instrumentation.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern