Depicts the calyx or sepals of a plant. Similar in origin to 不. Based on the original meaning "stem of a plant", now written as 蒂. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
Character Evolution
Oracle Bone~1250-1000 BCOracle Bone~1250-1000 BCBronzeLate Western Zhou~800 BCBronzeLate Warring States~250 BCBronzeQin221-206 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealQin221-206 BCSealShuowen~100 ADSealShuowen~100 ADClericalWestern Han202 BC-9 ADClericalWestern Han202 BC-9 ADClericalWestern Han202 BC-9 ADClericalEastern Han25-220 ADClericalEastern Han25-220 ADRegularModern
