Definitions

huì variant of 彗[huì]

Etymology

About

The character is a phono-semantic compound that originally designated a broom, specifically one constructed from bamboo or similarly stiff plant fibers. It is written with the bamboo radical on top, signaling that the implement was typically made of bamboo. The lower element, , acts as the phonetic and is also an early pictograph of a broom, so the character redundantly conveys its meaning through both components. Over the centuries, simpler characters such as and replaced in common use, and it now appears only in classical Chinese literature and specialized historical works describing ancient household utensils.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern