Depicts an eye (目) looking at a tree (木). Based on the original meaning "look at". The meaning of this character has shifted over time to "compare" and "each other".
Oracle Bone~1250-1000 BCBronzeEarly Western Zhou~1000 BCBronzeEarly Western Zhou~1000 BCBronzeLate Spring and Autumn~500 BCBronzeLate Warring States~250 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealShuowen~100 ADClericalQin221-206 BCRegularModern