Abstract: Yi(以) had both original complex and simplified form since it was documented in inscriptions on bones or tortoise shells. But Shuowen(说文) by Da Xu(大徐) only collected the simplified form because he confused the complex one of Yi(以) with that of Si(似). This paper holds that the original meaning of Yi(以), on which its other meanings were extended, is to give someone something. The meaning Gei Yu(给予) and Feng Zeng(奉赠) are the remainder of the archaic original meaning of Yi(以). And the complex form of Yi(以) was the consequence of the phonetic element used as a pictographic one. It is beneficial to further know the method of Chinese character formation, and to identify and corrct some previous misundertandings of the meanings of Yi(以) after understanding the origins of its form and meaning.
Publication Year: 2002
Publication Date: 2002-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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