214) 丬

qiang

piece of wood

Symbolizes a flat side of a half-cut logwood, which came to simply mean a piece of wood.

214ax) 肉

rou

214axx) 寸

cun

inch; joint

hand

214a) 将 / 将来

jiang / jianglai

will, would

hand/joint 寸⁴⁰[cùn] piece of wood 丬[qiáng] + meat 夕²²²→月²²¹→肉¹⁹²[ròu

Symbolizes a general laying out of pieces of sacrificial meat (肉) onto a piece of wood (丬) by hand (寸). The sacrificial ceremony was for blessing of victory in the future – wishing that victory will happen.

214bx) 士

shi

214b) 壮

zhuang

robust, strong

piece of wood 丬[qiáng] + scholar 士¹⁰⁴[shì]

Symbolizes the strong stance of a general (士) who performs ceremonies during war using pieces of wood (丬).

214cx) 衣

yi

214c) 装 / 安装

zhuang / anzhuang

adorn; install

robust 壮 [zhuàng] + clothes 衣¹³⁰[yī]

A general who performs wartime ceremonies (壮) is wearing an adorned armor (衣). Meaning of to install is derived from the act of decorating such armor.

215) 片

pian

piece, slice

Opposite of “丬[qiáng],” this symbolizes the right side of a log, meaning a thin piece. Also used as a unit to count thin or flat items.

215ax) 反

fan

opposite;

counter-, anti-

215a) 版

ban

printing plate; 

version, edition

thin piece 片 [piàn] + opposite 反^148a[fǎn]

Symbolizes a wood (片) printing plate that’s been carved in reverse (反) shape to print on paper.

215b) 卑

bei

humble, inferior; low

container with handle  [symbol] + left hand  [symbol]

The meaning low is derived from the fact that left hand (symbol) is regarded low in China, which also holds an everyday item like a container with handle (symbol).

215c) 牌

pai

tablet; plate

thin piece 片 [piàn] + low 卑 [bēi]

Symbolizes a small wooden (片) tablet used for identification, which was given out to everyone including commoners of inferior (卑) status.

215d) 啤

pi

beer

mouth 口¹⁶[kǒu] + low 卑 [bēi]

Synthesized to write Beer, a foreign word (口), by adding “卑” as pronunciation guide.

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.

217) 册

ce

book

Symbolizes bamboo books (册), created by bundling together thinly cut plates of bamboo (竹).

217ax) 丌

ji

217yx) 户

hu

217y-144c*) 扁

bian

flat

 door 户 [hù] + book 冊→册²¹⁷[cè]

 A door (户) usually made by tying branches together to make a flat slab, just like bamboo books (册).

217a) 典 / 字典

dian / zidian

ceremony;

dictionary

book 曲→册 [cè] + pedestal 丌^12c[jī]

Symbolizes putting important books (册) on national ceremonies on bookstands (丌). Meaning of dictionary is also derived from the fact that dictionaries contain all such important writings in one place.

217zx) 竹

zhu

217z-144e*) 篇

pian

piece; sheet

Before paper was invented, flat (扁) slabs of bamboo (竹) were tied together to make ???. This character is also used to ‘count the number of sentences.’