Depicts roots of a plant. Based on the original meaning "roots", now written as 荄. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
Character Evolution
Oracle Bone~1250-1000 BCOracle Bone~1250-1000 BCOracle Bone~1250-1000 BCOracle Bone~1250-1000 BCOracle Bone~1250-1000 BCOracle Bone~1250-1000 BCBronzeEarly Western Zhou~1000 BCBronzeLate Western Zhou~800 BCBronzeLate Western Zhou~800 BCBronzeSpring and Autumn771-476 BCBronzeEarly Spring and Autumn~700 BCBronzeMid Spring and Autumn~600 BCBronzeLate Spring and Autumn~500 BCBronzeLate Spring and Autumn~500 BCBronzeLate Spring and Autumn~500 BCBronzeEarly Warring States~400 BCSealMid Western Zhou~900 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealShuowen~100 ADSealShuowen~100 ADClericalSpring and Autumn771-476 BCClericalQin221-206 BCClericalWestern Han202 BC-9 ADClericalJin266-420 ADRegularModern