biàn​xī

analyze

biàn distinguish

Original meaning: to cut into two parts

(knife) added between two (chisel) components or conveying the original meaning "to cut into two parts". The meaning has shifted over time and now means "distinguish". also provides the sound.

Components

SoundIconic component
biàn criminals accusing one another

Here used to depict an object being cut into two parts. also gives the sound.

Iconic component
dāo knife

Depicts a knife.


Character Evolution

Bronze form
Bronze Early Western Zhou ~1000 BC
Seal form
Seal Shuowen ~100 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Qin 221-206 BC
Regular Modern

Historical Pronunciations

Middle ChineseOld ChineseGloss
Baxter-SagartbjenX[b]renʔ distinguish

說文解字

《說文》:“辦,判也。从刀,辡聲。”

Sources

Character origin
漢語多功能字庫
Readings & variants
Unicode
Historical pronunciations
Baxter-Sagart
Historical images
Academia Sinica

to separate

Depicts chopping wood () with an axe ().

Components

Iconic component
tree
Iconic component
jīn axe

Character Evolution

Oracle form
Oracle Bone ~1250-1000 BC
Bronze form
Bronze Mid Western Zhou ~900 BC
Bronze form
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn ~500 BC
Seal form
Seal Shuowen ~100 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Qin 221-206 BC
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

Component uses

Sound (0 of 5 verified)

Historical Pronunciations

Middle ChineseOld ChineseGloss
Baxter-Sagartsek[s]ˤek split (v.)

說文解字

《說文》:“析,破木也。一曰折也。从木,从斤。”

Sources

Character origin
漢語多功能字庫
Readings & variants
Unicode
Historical pronunciations
Baxter-Sagart
Historical images
Academia Sinica