6 methods of Chinese characters:
1. 象形– “pictograms; form imitation” pictograms that look like the characters
Ex. 山, 日, 月, 大, 水
2.指事– “simple ideograms; indication” characters that represent an idea through their iconic form.
Ex. 一, 二, 上, 下, 本
3.形聲– “Phono-semantic compound; form and sound”. Majority has words with the same phonic root.
Ex. 木à沐, 重à種, 由à油, 斗à枓, 當à噹
4.會意– “ideographic compounds; joined meaning”. Two or more characters to suggest new meaning.
Ex. 森, 好, 鱻, 焚, 雙
5.轉注– “derivative cognates; reciprocal meaning”. Characters with the same root, but not with same meaning
Ex. 老, 考, 已, 己, 關, 開
6.假借– “rebus (phonic loan); making use of” characters that borrow a root from another word.
Ex. 葉, 背, 腰, 泳, 沙
1. 象形– “pictograms; form imitation” pictograms that look like the characters
Ex. 山, 日, 月, 大, 水
2.指事– “simple ideograms; indication” characters that represent an idea through their iconic form.
Ex. 一, 二, 上, 下, 本
3.形聲– “Phono-semantic compound; form and sound”. Majority has words with the same phonic root.
Ex. 木à沐, 重à種, 由à油, 斗à枓, 當à噹
4.會意– “ideographic compounds; joined meaning”. Two or more characters to suggest new meaning.
Ex. 森, 好, 鱻, 焚, 雙
5.轉注– “derivative cognates; reciprocal meaning”. Characters with the same root, but not with same meaning
Ex. 老, 考, 已, 己, 關, 開
6.假借– “rebus (phonic loan); making use of” characters that borrow a root from another word.
Ex. 葉, 背, 腰, 泳, 沙