Definitions

a department in the state of Lu

Etymology phono-semantic

place

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

functions almost exclusively as a toponym, designating a historical state and, notably, modern Pizhou in Jiangsu province. It is a phono-semantic compound: the right-side radical (a variant of meaning 'city' or 'settlement') is typical of place-name characters, while the left-side (pī) provides the pronunciation. The ancient state of Pi was a minor polity, and the character has consistently referred to this area through many dynastic changes. It carries no other meanings or everyday grammatical uses in standard vocabulary, and has no traditional variant.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal 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)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern