Definitions

shèn used in 桑葚[sāng shèn]; also pr. [rèn]

Etymology phono-semantic

plant

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 葚, meaning mulberry fruit, is structured with the grass radical 艹 atop the phonetic component 甚, indicating its botanical classification and providing sound cues. Etymologically, it originated in classical Chinese texts to denote the fruit of the mulberry tree, and its semantic scope has consistently focused on this specific plant part. The character's form, comprising these components, has seen no major structural revisions in standard written usage.

Etymology Hide

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