218) 日

ri

day; sun

Symbolizes the round sun, also signifying day – a cycle of the sun.

218a) 旦

dan

dawn; daybreak

Dawn arrives as the sun (日) rises just above the horizon (一).

218b) 但

dan

only; but; still

person 亻⁷⁰[rén] + dawn 旦 [dàn]

Man (亻) can but only wait for the dawn (旦) to arrive, and there is nothing else he can do.

218c) 昌

chang

prosperous

sun 日 [rì] + sun 日 [rì]

sun (日) above the horizon and its reflection in water. The sun (日) will get stronger and brighter as it rises, giving the meaning of prosperous.

218d) 唱

chang

sing

mouth 口 [kǒu] + prosperous 昌 [chāng]

When everything goes well (昌), people start to sing spontaneously with their mouths (口).

218e) 早

zao

morning

sun 日 [rì] + rising further up 十 [symbol]

Sun (日) rises further up (十) from the dawn “旦[dàn],” to start morning.

218fx) 舟

zhou

218f) 朝

chao

dynasty; towards

grass 艹 [cǎo] + sun 日 [rì] + boat 月 →舟 [zhōu]

Originally meant as a morning sun (日) rising above the grass (艹) field. ship (舟) was added to imply a smooth voyage – symbolizing a wish for a smooth (舟) sailing of a newly-established dynasty. Also derived to mean facing towards something, as people of a nation always faced the kingdom of a dynasty.

218g) 旧

jiu

old; past

afterglow丨 [symbol] + sun 日 [rì]

Symbolizes the sun (日) being slightly overlapped, representing the afterglow of the past sun with a simple symbol (丨).

218hx) 月

yue

218h) 明

ming

bright; clear; next

sun 日 [rì] + moon 月²²¹[yuè]

Sun (日), light of the day, and the moon (月), light of the night, are combined to signify brightness. Also signifies wishing for a bright future to come next.

218yx) 生

sheng

218y) 星

xing

star

sun 日²¹⁸[rì] + be born 生 [shēng]

Stars are represented as a baby sun (日) which was just born (生).

218zx-187a) 辰

chen

218z-187a*) 晨

chen

dawn, morning

sun 日²¹⁸[rì] + sickle/5th 辰 [chén]

Symbolizes a farmer starting his harvest with scythe (辰) since early in the morning when stars (日→晶) are still up.

218wx) 阝

fu

218w-147b*) 阳

yang

sun; male genitals

hill 阝[fù] + sun 日²¹⁸[rì]

This describes the sun (日) rising above a hill (阝).

218qx) 寸

cun

218q) 时

shi

time

sun 日²¹⁸[rì] + joint 寸⁴⁰[cùn]

The length of the shadow on a sun (日) dial was measured by a finger joint (寸) to tell the time.