Simplified
Original meaning: rub between fingers
Depicts grain (來) being rolled between the fingers in the left hand (左). Based on the original meaning "rub between fingers", now written as 搓. The meaning later shifted to "uneven" and "error".
Components
Character Evolution
Component uses
Historical Pronunciations
| Middle Chinese | Old Chinese | Gloss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baxter-Sagart | tsrhae | tsʰraj | distinction; to select |
| tsrhea | [tsʰ]raj | distinction; to select | |
| tsrheaj | [tsʰ](ˤ)raj | distinction; to select | |
| tsrhje | tsʰraj | 參差 uneven | |
| tsha | [tsʰ]ˤaj | rub, polish, file (v.) |
說文解字
貳也。差不相值也。从左从𠂹。
Sources
- Character origin
- 漢語多功能字庫
- Readings & variants
- Unicode
- Historical pronunciations
- Baxter-Sagart
- Historical images
- Academia Sinica
- Etymology
- Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字)
Traditional
Original meaning: Three Stars constellation
Depicts three (三) stars (晶) shining (光). Originally represented the Three Stars constellation (參) in Chinese astronomy. The more common meaning "take part in" is a phonetic loan.
Components
Character Evolution
Component uses
Historical Pronunciations
| Middle Chinese | Old Chinese | Gloss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baxter-Sagart | tshom | r̥ˤəʔ | accumulate |
| tsrhim | [tsʰr][u]m | 參差 tsrhim.tsrhje uneven | |
| sam | s.rum (*s.r- > s-; infl. by 四 *s-?) | three | |
| srim | srum (should be *s.rum) | the constellation Orion’ (named for the three stars in Orion’s belt) |
說文解字
《說文》：“曑，商星也。从晶，聲。參，曑或省。”
Sources
- Character origin
- 漢語多功能字庫
- Readings & variants
- Unicode
- Historical pronunciations
- Baxter-Sagart
- Historical images
- Academia Sinica
- Etymology
- Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字)