216) 竹

zhu

bamboo

Bamboo is used in China as a symbol of longevity due to its long life and evergreen nature, as well as having same pronunciation as wish “祝 [zhù].”

216yx) 毛

mao

hair

216y-188a*) 笔

bi

pen; writing brush

bamboo 竹²¹⁶[zhú] + hair 毛 [máo]

Symbolizes a brush for writing, created by attaching animal hair (毛) at the tip of a bamboo (竹) straw. Now used to refer to any writing tools including pen and pencil.

216zx) 合

he

216z-65b*) 答

da

answer

bamboo 竹²¹⁶[jí] + join 合 [hé]

when making a deal the Chinese wrote on a piece of bamboo (竹) and broke it in half. Later, when they needed to verify facts, they joined the pieces together (合) to get the answer.

216ax) 相

xiang

216a) 箱

xiang

box

bamboo 竹 [zhú] + each other 相^11c[xiāng]

Bamboo is light and easy to bend, but it is not easily breakable. This character portrays a box which is made by processing and cross-weaving (相) bamboo (竹).

216bx) 快

kuai

216b) 筷

kuai

chopsticks

bamboo 竹 [zhú] + quick 快^28d[kuài]

chopsticks are made of bamboo (竹), and the sound element “快[kuài].”

216wx) 间

jian

216w-145d*) 简

jian

simple

bamboo 竹 [zhú] + between 间 [jiān]

Before paper was invented, sentences were simple because the Chinese wrote on tiny spaces (间) of flat bamboo (竹).

216qx) 夭

yao

die prematurely;

young

216q-78a*) 笑

xiao

laugh(ing)

bamboo 竹²¹⁶[zhú] + young 夭 [yāo]

When you laugh, you appear younger (夭) and will live longer (竹) too.