Definitions

zài (verb) to carry; to transport
zài (verb) to load; to fill up
zài (particle) and; also; as well as
zǎi (verb) to record; to publish
zǎi (noun) year

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and 𢦔 represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "载", traditionally represented as "載", integrates the semantic radical "車" denoting a cart or vehicle with the component "𢦏", which initially carried connotations of cutting but in this construct primarily serves a phonetic function, creating a graph originally associated with the action of loading goods onto a transport means. Over time, its meaning extended from this concrete act of carrying into more abstract domains, such as supporting or conveying immaterial things like ideas or duties, and subsequently specialized into signifying the recording of information, metaphorically bearing facts into written form. This semantic expansion is reflected in the character's dual modern pronunciations, with zài pertaining to physical transport and zǎi to documentation or temporal units like years, yet both strands preserve the underlying notion of bearing a burden across its historical development.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Warring States (475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
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 Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这辆车能五人。

Zhè liàng chē néng zài wǔ rén.

This car can carry five people.

历史书上记了很多事件。

Lìshǐ shū shàng jìzǎile hěnduō shìjiàn.

The history book records many events.

货船满了各种商品。

Huòchuán zàimǎnle gèzhǒng shāngpǐn.

The cargo ship is fully loaded with various goods.

这篇文章转自报纸。

Zhè piān wénzhāng zhuǎnzǎi zì bàozhǐ.

This article is reprinted from the newspaper.

文件需要一些时间。

Xiàzǎi wénjiàn xūyào yīxiē shíjiān.

Downloading the file requires some time.

飞船承着人类的梦想。

Fēichuán chéngzàizhe rénlèi de mèngxiǎng.

The spaceship carries the dreams of humanity.

他的功绩将永史册。

Tā de gōngjī jiāng yǒng zǎi shǐcè.

His achievements will be forever recorded in the annals of history.

这部著作记了历史变迁。

Zhè bù zhùzuò jìzǎile lìshǐ biànqiān.

This work records the changes of history.