Definitions

ěr recently; near; close

Etymology phono-semantic

walk

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character conveys physical or temporal nearness, close at hand, nearby, or recent. Its radical , derived from walking, ties the idea of proximity to movement through space. The traditional form pairs this semantic radical with the phonetic component , which indicates the pronunciation. In the simplified , the complex is replaced by the simpler , keeping the sound while reducing strokes. The character often appears in formal writing as a contrast to terms denoting great distance or remote antiquity.

Etymology Hide

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)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern