Definitions

měi to ask a favor of

Etymology phono-semantic

water

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is a phono-semantic compound: the water radical points to its original sense of polluting or defiling water, while supplies the pronunciation. The meaning later broadened into a social context, arriving at "to ask a favor" or "to entreat someone", a clear shift from physical contamination to an abstract interpersonal action.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern