邹韬奋
Zōu Tāo​fèn

Zou Taofen

邹 zōu, jù name of an ancient state Simplified

Phonosemantic compound. 阝 represents the meaning and 刍 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鄒.

Components

阝
阝 Meaning component
fù hill, place

阝 is a component form of 阜.

刍
刍 Sound component
chú, zōu mow, cut grass

Sources

Readings & variants
Unicode

韬 tāo, tào sheath Simplified

Components

韦
韦 Meaning component
wéi, huí tanned leather

leather

舀
舀 Sound component
yǎo to scoop up

Sources

Readings & variants
Unicode

奋 fèn strive, exert effort Simplified

Simplified form of 奮. Depicts a bird (隹) lifting off in a field (田), starting to fly.

Components

大
大 Simplified component
dà, dài big

Shorthand for the top part of the traditional character 奮.

田
田 Iconic component
tián field

Sources

Character origin
漢語多功能字庫季旭昇《說文新證》p.291
Readings & variants
Unicode

鄒 name of an ancient state Traditional

Phonosemantic compound. 阝 represents the meaning and 芻 represents the sound.

Components

阝
阝 Meaning component
fù hill, place

阝 is a component form of 阜.

芻
芻 Sound component
mow, cut grass

Character Evolution

Seal form
Seal Western Han 202 BC-9 AD
Seal form
Seal Western Han 202 BC-9 AD
Seal form
Seal Shuowen ~100 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Eastern Han 25-220 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Three Kingdoms (Wu) 222-280 AD
Regular Modern

Historical Pronunciations

Old Chinese
Zhengzhangʔsru

說文解字

魯縣，古邾國，帝顓頊之後所封。从邑芻聲。

Sources

Readings & variants
Unicode
Historical pronunciations
Zhengzhang Shangfang
Historical images
Academia Sinica
Etymology
Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字)

韜 sheath Traditional

Components

韋
韋 Meaning component
(surround a city), tanned leather

leather

舀
舀 Sound component
yǎo to scoop up

Character Evolution

Seal form
Seal Shuowen ~100 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Eastern Han 25-220 AD
Regular Modern

Historical Pronunciations

Old Chinese
Zhengzhangl̥ʰuː

說文解字

劒衣也。从韋舀聲。

Sources

Readings & variants
Unicode
Historical pronunciations
Zhengzhang Shangfang
Historical images
Academia Sinica
Etymology
Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字)

奮 fèn strive, exert effort Traditional

Depicts a bird (隹) lifting off in a field (田), starting to fly.

Components

衣
衣 RemnantUnknown component
yī clothes

The purpose of this component is unclear.

隹
隹 Iconic component
zhuī, cuī, wéi bird
田
田 Iconic component
tián field

Character Evolution

Bronze form
Bronze Early Western Zhou ~1000 BC
Seal form
Seal Warring States (Chu) 475-221 BC
Seal form
Seal Warring States (Chu) 475-221 BC
Seal form
Seal Shuowen ~100 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Qin 221-206 BC
Regular Modern

Historical Pronunciations

Middle ChineseOld ChineseGloss
Baxter-SagartpjunH(Cə.)pə[r]-s (W dialect)spread wings and fly

說文解字

《說文》：“奮，翬也。从在田上。《詩》曰：‘不能奮飛。’”

Sources

Character origin
漢語多功能字庫季旭昇《說文新證》p.291
Readings & variants
Unicode
Historical pronunciations
Baxter-Sagart
Historical images
Academia Sinica
Etymology
Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字)