Definitions

shāo stern of boat

Etymology phono-semantic

ship

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is a phono-semantic compound: the left-side radical provides the meaning "boat" or "ship", while the right-side component indicates the pronunciation. The radical firmly restricts the character's meaning to nautical terms. It denotes the stern, the rear section of a vessel where the rudder is located and the helmsman operates, and can also refer to the helmsman. has no broader metaphorical extensions and is confined entirely to these literal nautical senses.