Depicts an animal's claw (釆) with their pad shown. 釆 also represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "foot of an animal", now written as 蹯. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
Depicts an animal's pad. Modern form looks like unrelated 田.
Character Evolution
BronzeLate Western Zhou~800 BCBronzeLate Western Zhou~800 BCBronzeEarly Spring and Autumn~700 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealShuowen~100 ADSealShuowen~100 ADSealShuowen~100 ADClericalWestern Han202 BC-9 ADClericalWestern Han202 BC-9 ADClericalEastern Han25-220 ADRegularModern
