History: Meaning component
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+ A **meaning** or **semantic** component hints at the meaning of the character.+ + For example:+ + :grid(headers=[Character, "Meaning component"]){+ :char(simp=妈 trad=媽 pinyin="ma1" gloss="mother")+ :char(simp=女 trad=女 pinyin="nü3" gloss="woman" mono=meaning)+ :char(simp=问 trad=問 pinyin="wen4" gloss="to ask")+ :char(simp=口 trad=口 pinyin="kou3" gloss="mouth" mono=meaning)+ :char(simp=想 trad=想 pinyin="xiang3" gloss="to think")+ :char(simp=心 trad=心 pinyin="xin1" gloss="heart" mono=meaning)+ :char(simp=错 trad=錯 pinyin="cuo4" gloss="wrong")+ :char(simp=金 trad=金 pinyin="jin1" gloss="metal" mono=meaning)+ }+ + :swatch(type=meaning) Meaning components are color-coded as :color(type=meaning){red}.+ + ## Historical shifts in meaning+ + Sometimes a character does not seem related to its meaning component. This can happen when the meaning of a character changes over the course of history.+ + For example, the character 错|錯 originally meant to decorate something by inlaying it with gold or silver, which is why it contains the 金 (metal) component. Later this character expanded to include other meanings:+ + - interlocking pattern+ - stagger / crossing+ - complex / chaotic+ - incorrect / mistake+ - bad / wrong