Definitions
About
The character 物 is structured with the semantic component 牛, meaning ox, and the phonetic component 勿. Its earliest etymological meaning centered on the particular coloration or pattern of an ox, as documented in classical Zhou dynasty texts. From this specific sense, the term gradually expanded to denote physical objects and materials broadly, a semantic generalization that became standard during the Warring States and Han periods. Subsequently, 物 further extended to encompass abstract matters and phenomena, notably within philosophical discourses such as those in Daoist and Confucian works. The composition of 牛 and 勿 has defined the character's form in its traditional iteration throughout its historical usage.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我喜欢小动物。
这个食物很好吃。
植物需要阳光。
我收到一个礼物。
请保管好你的物品。
水是重要的物质。
我对物理很感兴趣。
博物馆里有很多历史文物。