allograph (different shape but same meaning)

connotation as a character part

abbreviated, abbreviation

contracted, contraction

extended meaning

government

kanji, ideograph, character

literal translation from the Shuowen Jiezi

modified, modification

mijn hanzi, modification

opposite meaning or situation

when used as a character part

explanation according to Richard Sears (http://hanziyuan.net/)

one of the 214 radicals in the traditional character classification system

situation chosen for evoking this meaning

suffix for counting units of objects, etc.

Unclassified by Joseph De Roo.

Characters

Primitives

Primitives are character components which can be used to decompose a character and fabricate a story around it to remember it. Most of the time components where joined because of their pronunciation to certain signific parts. This means that originally a character had a signific part, giving meaning to it, and a phonetic part, giving a phonetic clue to the character. In case we use the original meaning we always put the marker RS. in front which means that the meaning comes from the excellent site from Richard Sears about Chinese Etymology. More information can be found here.

Knowing these primitives well will aid in remembering them. Primitives are always colored light green on this site.

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畐畐R S		fill, a foll of cloth	pot which is filled with a lid on top: → → 畐 con. ink pot
柬柬R S		letter, invitation, choose	RS. bag with contents tied at both ends → 柬: full of letters to be delivered
矛矛R S		spear, lance, rad. 110	saw lance → → 矛
壬壬R S		the ninth of the Ten Celestial Stems, artful and crafty, great, pregnant	RS. two loads 工 on a carry pole: something crafted; woman carrying a baby: pregnant	𡈼
舛舛R S		oppose, deviate, be contrary to, rad. 136	two feet opposed → 舛
夭夭R S		young, fresh-looking, die young	RS. man 大 with head leaning forward: he's running → young
牙牙R S		tooth, molars, teeth, serrated, rad. 92	tusk of an elephant → 牙
兆兆R S		trillion, sign, omen	RS. the cracking of a turtle shell while casting fortune → 兆: something which was done uncountable times in the past
臣臣R S		subject, vassal, subjugate, conquer, minister, statesman, official	RS. sideways version of eye 目 → → 臣: official looking down on subjects
乃乃R S		to be, but, however, and also, moreover, so, therefore, you, your, then, if	RS. pregnant woman with big stomach and breasts con. flower a woman is to be pregnant when she feels a kick in her stomach
疋疋R S		roll, bolt of cloth, foot, rad. 103	man rolling up the carpet → 疋
瓜瓜R S		melon, gourd, cucumber, rad. 97	fruit hanging at the ranks → 瓜
乙乙R S	⺄乚乛	second, 2nd heavenly stem, one, rad. 5	consists of one stroke but looks like two strokes
亢亢R S		high, proud, violent, excessive, skilled, name	RS. proud man → 亢
𡰯𡰯R S		Kangxi dictionary: ancient form of 豕	person 尸 holding a towel hanging on a stick 巾 con. person holding a brush
象象R S		elephant, ivory, figure, image, pattern after, imitate	elephant → → → 象; this character is an image patterned after the real thing
爪爪R S	爫㕚	claw, nail, talon, animal feet, rad. 87	claw → 爪
亅亅R S		hook, rad. 6	looks like a hook
單單R S 单单	単	single, individual, only, lone	a single cicada → 單单単 there is only a single, unique Mickey Mouse 單/单
冊冊R S 册册		book, volume	bamboo slats woven together → 冊册

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