Original meaning: tattoo the face for a crime committed

Pictograph of a person whose face has been tattooed, now written as 墨. In ancient China criminals were punished by having their faces permanently marked. Later writers reanalyzed the character as a chimney being blackened by fire, so the bottom component was written to look like 炎 (flame).

Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 专 represents the sound. Simplified form of 磚.

An oven 穴 where pots 缶 are fired; 缶 also provides the pronunciation

Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 專 represents the sound.

An oven 穴 where lamb 羔 is cooked; 羔 also provides the pronunciation