Definitions

common perch; bass

Etymology

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

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

, the Chinese character for 'bass', is a phono-semantic compound. The traditional form pairs the fish radical (indicating an aquatic creature) with the phonetic , which supplies the sound. In the simplified script, the components become the simplified radical and the abbreviated phonetic , drastically reducing the number of strokes while preserving the original character's structure and function. Throughout its history, it has exclusively referred to the bass, with no abstract or metaphorical senses.