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shell
The body () of shellfish is sticking out from its shell (冂). Purple-colored shellfish (贝) back in Yin (殷) and Jiu(周) Dynasties were used as currency |
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bear
person ⺈68[rén] + currency/shell 贝 [bèi]
Symbolizes a person (⺈) bearing a sack of money (贝) on his back. |
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blame
thorn [image]→朿 [cì] + currency/shell 贝 [bèi]
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merit; twist hempen thread
thread 纟132[sī] + blame 责 [zé]
Represents the entire process of knitting a cloth by spun threads (纟). Cloth was traded as valuable material and was used to pay tax or debt in place of certain responsibilities (责) |
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expensive; precious
holding tight with two hands [symbol] + currency/shell 贝 [bèi]
Symbolizes grabbing of a precious, high-priced (贝) item with two hands (symbol). |
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penetrate;
pass through
thread 毌 [guàn] + currency/shell 贝 [bèi]
Signifies a bundle of coins (贝) created by passing through (毌) a piece of thread through the hole in the middle. |
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be used to
heart 忄=心28[xīn] + pass through 贯 [guàn]
A habit is an action which someone does without thinking, thus from the heart (忄), by being used to do a same action for a long period of time; i.e putting many coins into one bundle by passing through (贯) strings in each one of them. |
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defeat
shell 贝 [bèi] → pot 鼎 [dǐng] + strike 攵50[pū]
In the ancient China, pots with decorated feet were used as a symbol of royals that was used in special ceremonies. When defeated in war, enemies would destroy such pots (鼎) with heavy maces (攵). |
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member
mouth 口16[kǒu] + shell 贝 [bèi] → pot 鼎 [dǐng]
Used to signify circle from the shape of the mouth (口) in a pot (鼎). Now became to mean a member (as in “someone inside the circle(员)”) |
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round, circle
enclose 囗20[wéi] + member 员 [yuán]
When “员[yuán]” became to mean a member or a person in a group, an encirclement “囗” is added to restore the meaning of circle or round. |
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