Definitions

to bore with an awl; bright, charming

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

About

The character is a phonosemantic compound: the radical (spear) signals piercing or martial connotations, while supplies the sound. Its original meaning was to pierce or bore through something with an awl or spear-like tool, directly tied to the spear radical. In classical literature, it later acquired a completely different sense, describing auspicious multicolored clouds or graceful birds in flight. This transformation from a violent action to an image of propitious elegance is a sharp semantic departure, leaving the character's modern literary usage largely unmoored from the martial origins of .

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern