Definitions

kuì edible amaranth; straw basket

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is the simplified form of , a phono-semantic compound. The radical (grass) points to a meaning connected with plants and woven plant materials, and the phonetic , reduced to in the simplification, indicates the sound. Originally, the character denoted a basket woven from straw, grass, or other pliable fibers, typically used for carrying earth, agricultural produce, or similar goods. While primarily a noun, in classical texts it occasionally functions as a verb meaning to carry such a basket, especially during manual labor or construction.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern