Definitions

xiǎng (literary) to offer food and drinks; to entertain

Etymology

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

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

, the simplified form of , is a phonosemantic compound: conveys the meaning 'food', and (a simplification of ) indicates the sound. In the traditional character , the phonetic was placed above . The character originally denoted offerings of food and drink to guests, superiors, or spirits in sacrificial ceremonies, and now means to host a feast or provide a lavish meal.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 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