Characters of Lesson 7

本 běn : root, origin; classifier for books

Character decomposition:

Graphic components: 木 tree; 一 one (horizontal stroke added at the base).
Etymology: 本 běn is an ideogram. It is composed of the tree 木 mù with a horizontal stroke added at the base to indicate the lower part of the tree, i.e., the roots. The original meaning is therefore "root," "origin." By extension, it has taken on the meaning of "book" (the book being the source of knowledge) and has become the classifier for bound works.

东 dōng : east (cardinal direction)

Character decomposition:

Graphic components: 东 is the simplified form of 東.
Etymology: 东 dōng is the simplified form of 東. The ancient character represented a bag or bundle tied at both ends. This character was borrowed to write the word "east" (direction of the rising sun). The simplification retained the vertical stroke and general shape while reducing the number of strokes.

西 xī : west
Character decomposition:

Graphic components: 西 is a graphic component.
Etymology: 西 xī is a pictogram. The ancient character represented a bird's nest. Birds return to their nests at sunset, i.e., to the west. It is by this association that the character took on the meaning of "west." In modern Chinese, it is no longer used alone to mean "west" (one says 西边) but enters into the composition of many words such as 东西 dōngxi "thing."

衣 yī : clothing

Character decomposition:

Graphic components: 衣 is a graphic component.
Etymology: 衣 yī is a pictogram representing clothing with a collar and sleeves. It is one of the oldest Chinese characters. In the ancient form, the shape of a tunic open at the front is clearly visible. This character is also used as a component in many other characters related to clothing or fabric (such as 裤 pants, 袜 socks).

服 fú : clothing, to submit

Character decomposition:

Graphic components: 月 moon/flesh; 卩 seal; 又 right hand.
Etymology: 服 fú is an ideogram. The ancient character was composed of a kneeling man 卩 and a hand 又, evoking the idea of submitting someone. The component 月 (originally 舟 "boat") was added later. The meaning evolved to "obey," then "to wear (clothing)" and "clothing."

还 hái : still, to return

Character decomposition:

Graphic components: 不 negation; 辶 to walk.
Etymology: 还 huán/hái (simplified form of 還) is composed of 辶 chuò (walk) and the phonetic element 睘 huán. Originally, it represented the **circular return** or **the action of coming back**. By extension, it has developed two readings: "to return, give back" (huán) and "still, also" (hái), as in 还钱 huán qián (to repay) or 还有 háiyǒu (there is still). The character combines movement (辶) with circularity (睘), evoking a path that brings you back to the starting point.

手 shǒu : hand

Character decomposition:

Graphic components: 手 is a graphic component.
Etymology: 手 shǒu is a pictogram representing a hand with its five fingers.

机 jī : machine, mechanism

Character decomposition:

Graphic components: 木 tree/wood; 几 small table.
Etymology: 机 jī is the simplified form of 機. The traditional character is composed of wood 木 mù and a complex phonetic component 幾 jǐ. It originally referred to a crossbow or triggering mechanism, then by extension any mechanical device. The simplification replaced 幾 with 几 jǐ.

件 jiàn : classifier for clothes, items, events

Character decomposition:

Graphic components: 亻 human; 牛 ox.
Etymology: 件 jiàn is an ideogram composed of the man 亻 and the ox 牛 niú. The character originally evoked the idea of separating or dividing (a man separating livestock). By extension, it denotes a "piece," "article," or "item" and serves as a classifier for clothes, individual objects, and matters.

那 nà : that, those (distant)

Character decomposition:

Graphic components: 刀 knife (left, deformed); 阝 city (right).
Etymology: 那 nà was originally the name of an ancient state. The character is composed of the city component 阝 (right) and a phonetic element. It was borrowed to serve as a demonstrative pronoun indicating distance ("that, those, over there"), in contrast to 这 zhè, which indicates proximity.

书 shū : book, to write
Character decomposition:

Graphic components: 书 is the simplified form of 書.
Etymology: 书 shū is the simplified form of 書. The traditional character is composed of the brush 聿 yù (the hand holding a brush) and 者 zhě, a phonetic component. It originally meant "to write," then by extension "book, written work." The simplification drastically reduced the number of strokes while retaining the idea of the brush.

些 xiē : some, a few

Character decomposition:

Graphic components: 止 to stop; 匕 spoon; 二 two.
Etymology: 些 xiē is an ideogram composed of 此 cǐ (this) in the upper part and 二 èr (two) in the lower part. The character evokes the idea of "a few" or "a small number." It is never used alone in modern Chinese, but always in combination: 一些 yìxiē (some), 这些 zhèxiē (these), 那些 nàxiē (those).

这 zhè : this, these (near)
Character decomposition:

Graphic components: 文 writing, culture; 辶 to walk.
Etymology: 这 zhè is the simplified form of 這. The traditional character is composed of 辶 chuò (to walk, to advance) and 言 yán (speech). The simplified form replaces 言 with 文 wén (writing). The character means "this, these" and refers to something close, in contrast to 那 nà (that, those, distant).