Definitions
full up; classifier for items of clothing (old)
Etymology
About
The character 福, meaning "good fortune" or "blessing", is structured with a semantic component on the left and a phonetic component on the right. Its traditional form consists of the radical 礻, a variant of 示 which denotes matters related to spirits or worship, combined with 畐, which historically represented a full vessel and contributed both sound and the connotation of abundance. Etymologically, the character originally referred to the sacrificial wine and meat offered to spirits or ancestors, an act intended to solicit prosperity. Over time, its meaning generalized from the specific ritual act to encompass the abstract concept of happiness, luck, and wellbeing that the sacrifice was meant to secure.
Etymology Hide
