Definitions

qiú collect; to match

Etymology phono-semantic

walk

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character is a phono-semantic compound that combines the walking radical (suggesting action, gathering, or progression) with the phonetic . Its original sense of matching, pairing, or gathering together developed into the noun meaning "mate", "spouse", or ideal partner, famously appearing in the opening poem of the *Book of Songs* as 好逑, a proper spouse for a noble person. Today it is used almost exclusively in formal, poetic, or classical contexts concerning marriage, courtship, and ideal partnerships.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern