Definitions

special pattern of embroidery

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

A phono-semantic compound: (embroidery) on the left provides the meaning, and on the right indicates the pronunciation. names a black-and-blue embroidered pattern of two bows facing away from each other, applied to ceremonial robes. As one of the Twelve Ornaments, it symbolized the discernment between right and wrong and was reserved for the emperor and high-ranking officials. The character has no distinct simplified form.

Etymology Hide

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