Definitions
(verb)
to divine; to foretell
(noun)
turnip
Etymology
Pictograph of a crack on a bone. In ancient China such cracks were used for fortune-telling.
About
The character "卜" finds its origin in the practice of pyromantic divination, where its abstract form was designed to represent the fissures and cracks that would appear on turtle plastrons or animal bones when exposed to heat during ritual ceremonies. Its minimal structure, comprising a single vertical stroke intersected by a shorter mark, reflects a lasting graphical simplification of those original omen lines. Initially serving as a verb for the act of divination, its semantic field gradually widened to encompass related notions of forecasting and prediction, and it acquired additional functions such as being a common surname, yet its enduring connection to seeking foresight is still observable in the many compound words it constitutes.
Example Sentences Hide
妈妈买了红萝卜。
今天晚餐有萝卜汤。
他用萝卜做了沙拉。
卜卦预测未来并不科学。
古代人常用占卜决定大事。
这位巫师精通各种卜术。
在市场上，白萝卜和红萝卜都很便宜。
虽然卜卦结果如此，但他还是坚持自己的选择。