Simplified
Original meaning: ears of a grain plant
Depicts the ripe drooping ears of a grain stalk (禾). 彡 was later added as a decorative mark. Based on the original meaning "ears of a grain plant". The meaning of this character has shifted over time and now means "majestic".
Components
Character Evolution
Historical Pronunciations
| Middle Chinese | Old Chinese | Gloss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baxter-Sagart | mjuwk | m(r)iwk | harmonious |
說文解字
《說文》：“穆，禾也。从禾，聲。”
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: to tremble with fear
Depicts a hand holding a bamboo stick (聿) walking on the edge of an abyss (𣶒). Based on the original meaning "to tremble with fear". The meaning later shifted to "solemn" and "pay respects".
Components
Character Evolution
Component uses
Historical Pronunciations
| Middle Chinese | Old Chinese | Gloss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baxter-Sagart | sjuwk | siwk | solemn, severe |
| sjuwk | siwk | contract (v.); shrivel | |
| sjuwk | siwk | present (v.) | |
| sjuwk | siwk | beat (v.) | |
| sjuwk | siwk | eager; swift |
說文解字
《說文》：“肅，持事振敬也。从在上，戰戰兢兢也。，古文肅。从心，从卪。”
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)