← Back to history approved by Peter Olson · Jan 12, 2022, 08:45 PM · Reviewed by Peter Olson on Jan 12, 2022, 08:45 PM
Changed fields: components
Original meaning: to compensate, subsidize
Phonosemantic compound. 贝 represents the meaning and 占 represents the sound. Simplified form of 貼.
Components
In ancient China shells were used as currency.
Change in meaning
贝 hints at the original meaning of 贴, "to compensate, subsidize",
which is no longer the most common meaning of 贴 in modern Mandarin. Change in sound
贴 and 占 don't sound similar in modern Mandarin due to historical phonetic changes. They were more similar
in older Chinese. Historical Pronunciations