tǎo​qǐ

beg

tǎo to discuss Simplified

Original meaning: manage, govern

Simplified form of . Depicts using speech () and one's hands () to manage or govern. The meaning later shifted to "discuss" and "ask for".

Components

Meaning component
yán speech

is a component form of .

Meaning component
cùn, cun (hand), inch

Depicts a hand.

Sources

Character origin
漢語多功能字庫李学勤《字源》p.193-194
Readings & variants
Unicode

qǐ, qì beg

Original meaning: air

Originally a variant of , which depicts a gust of air. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Character Evolution

Clerical form
Clerical Eastern Han 25-220 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Eastern Han 25-220 AD
Regular Modern

Component uses

Sound (1 of 11 verified)

Meaning (0 of 2 verified)

Historical Pronunciations

Middle ChineseOld ChineseGloss
Baxter-Sagartkhj+tC.qʰət beg, ask

Sources

Character origin
季旭昇《說文新證》p.58-59漢語多功能字庫
Readings & variants
Unicode
Historical pronunciations
Baxter-Sagart
Historical images
Academia Sinica

tǎo to discuss Traditional

Original meaning: manage, govern

Depicts using speech () and one's hands () to manage or govern. The meaning later shifted to "discuss" and "ask for".

Components

Meaning component
yán speech
Meaning component
cùn, cun (hand), inch

Depicts a hand.

Character Evolution

Seal form
Seal Qin 221-206 BC
Seal form
Seal Shuowen ~100 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Western Han 202 BC-9 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Eastern Han 25-220 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Eastern Han 25-220 AD
Regular Modern

Historical Pronunciations

Middle ChineseOld ChineseGloss
Baxter-SagartthawX[t]ʰˤuʔ examine; denounce

說文解字

《說文》:“討,治也。从言,从寸。”

Sources

Character origin
李学勤《字源》p.193-194漢語多功能字庫
Readings & variants
Unicode
Historical pronunciations
Baxter-Sagart
Historical images
Academia Sinica