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HSK 10 N4
ドク、トク、トウ
よ.む、-よ.み
독, 두
Phonosemantic compound. 言 represents the meaning and 𧸇 represents the sound.
Components
Traditional (讀)
say+ 𧸇 to sell =
read
Meaning component
yán say
words, speech
𧸇 Phonetic component
to sell
The original sound component 𧸇 was later corrupted to the visually and semantically similar character 賣.
View phonetic series →
Simplified (读)
speech+ betray =
read
Meaning component
yán speech
KangXi radical 149
讠 is a component form of 言.
Simplified component
mài betray
sell
Simplified from the 𧸇 component in the traditional character 讀.
Japanese (読)
say+ sell =
read
say
sell
Notes
Historical Evolution
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Clerical
Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Regular
Modern
Chinese
/ [dòu]
comma; phrase marked by pause
/ [dú]
to read; to study; reading of word (i.e. pronunciation), similar to 拼音[pīn​yīn]
Example Sentences
Japanese Names
さとる
Satoru unclassified name