223a) 不

bu

no(t)

ground /earth 一 [symbol] + root [symbol]

Root (symbol) of plants will not spring above ground (一). Used as negation.

223bx) 木

mu

223b) 杯

bei

cup

tree 木²¹⁰[mù] + not 不 [bù]

A meaning of drinking cup (for alcohol) is derived from wooden (木) cups used by people with “不” added as pronunciation guide.

223y-61b*) 还

hai

still

not 不^223a[bù] + road/go 辶 [chuò]

When “辶” is used about a road, it’s about the distance. This describes the situation when one is on the road (辶), but the distance is still not (不) decreasing.

223zx) 土

tu

earth; dust; soil

223z-152d*) 坏

huai

bad

soil 土 [tǔ] + not 不^223a[bù]

Soil (土) produces plants which serve as most essential elements for easily available food chain in the ecological world. When the soil as such has turned bad, it can no longer (不) produce such plants or crops.

223c) 业 / 职业

ye / zhiye

industry; business

job; occupation

tool holder [symbol] + supporting plate 一 [symbol]

A tool holder (symbol) is placed on top of a supporting plate (一), derived to mean occupation or job.

223d) 七

qi

seven; 7

Lower part of “ten 十 [shí]” is bent to represent number 7, a little less than 10.

223e) 三

san

three; 3

Three strokes of lines are used to represent number 3.

223f) 上

shang

up; above

symbol [symbol] + base line 一 [symbol]

A symbol () above a line serving as base (一). Can be used differently as verb.

223g) 下

xia

down(ward)

base line 一 [symbol] + marking by line [symbol]

A symbol () below a line serving as base (一). Opposite of “up 上 [shàng], ” and can be used differently as verb.