226) 二

er

two; 2

Two lines are stroked horizontally to signify number two.

226a) 五

wu

five; 5

heaven and earth 二 [symbol] + crossing/inter-connecting  [symbol]

The two horizontal lines (二) signifying heaven and earth is inter-connected (symbol) to represent the universe. It was believed that the universe contained five basic elements.

226b) 吾

wu

I; my

five 五 [wǔ] + mouth 口¹⁶[kǒu]

Signifies an act of wishing (口) for well-being of myself (I) to the god of nature who governs the five (五) basic elements of nature

226c) 语

yu

language

word 讠=言²²[yán] + I 吾 [wú]

Signifies an act of prayer (讠) to a deity in one’s own (吾) language.

227) 云

yun

cloud; say

Signifies clouds floating in the sky. A floating cloud can also predict rain, which then also came to mean to say.

227a) 运 / 运行

yun / yunxing

transport; predestination;

run, move

cloud 云 [yún] + go 辶⁶¹[chuò]

Signifies a cloud (云) floating (辶) around, or moving, as wind blows.

227yx) 力

li

force, power

plow

227y-159d*) 动

dong

move

say/cloud 云²²⁷[yún] + plow/power 力 [lì]

Signifies a cow moving with plow (力) at the shouting (云) command of a man.

227zx) 尸

shi

corpse

house

227z-90d*) 层

ceng

layer

house/corpse 尸 [shī] + cloud 云²²⁷[yún]

A cloud (云) is layered because different clouds form at different altitudes. This character depicts a house (尸) with many floors.

228) 井

jing

well

Signifies the frame of a waterwell, created by weaving together stone and wood materials and digging downward.

228a) 讲

jiang

explain; speak

word 讠=言²²[yán] + well 井 [jǐng]

As one can build a well (井) by weaving together stones and woods, an explanation can be given by weaving (井) of words (讠).

228b) 进

jin

advance

well 井 [jǐng] + go 辶⁶¹[chuò]

a thirsty man in the heat running (辶) or advancing towards a well (井).

229) 八

ba

eight; 8

Shaped as two matching lines in opposite, means to divide. Currently means number 8, derived from a number that can be continuously divided(八).

229ax) 亠

tou

229a) 六

liu

six; 6

Originally meant a shape of house with ceiling (亠) and pillars (八), but later became to mean number 6.

229yx) 刀

dao

229y-119a*) 分

fen

divide; minute

divide/eight 八²²⁹[bā] + knife 刀 [dāo]

To divide in half (八) with a knife (刀). A ‘minute’ is a division of time, and ‘fen’ is the smallest denomination of Chinese currency. (1分 = 1/100元 = 1/10角)

229b) 曾

ceng

once; already

eight 丷→八 [bā] + stacked dual pot steamer  [symbol]

an act of steam-vaporising (八) from the top of a dual-pot steamer which consists of a water-boiling pot (曰) on bottom and a holed steam-receiving pot (symbol) on top. Doubles as meaning of “at early” or “already” as the water is already boiling once steams are shooting out from top.

229zx) 土

tu

229z-152e*) 增

zeng

increase

soil 土 [tǔ] + stacked dual pot steamer/once 曾^229b[céng]

Signifies act of sealing the seams using clay (土) between two steaming pots (曾) to increase its heat efficiency.

230ax) 穴

xue

cave

230a) 究

jiu

investigate

cave 穴¹⁴²[xué] + nine 九 [jiǔ]

Signifies research or investigation as in digging a deep (九) hole (穴).

230bx) 木

mu

230b) 杂

za

miscellaneous; mixed, various

nine 九 [jiǔ] + tree 木²¹⁰[mù]

Signifies a bird with feathers with many (九) various colors mixed, sitting on a tree (木).

230c) 丸

wan

pellet (kuglica)

When bowing, person’s back takes a round shape like an egg or pellet

230yx) 扌

shou

230yxx) 灬

huo/biao

230y-158f*) 热

re

heat

hand 扌=手³¹[shǒu] + bow/pellet 丸^230c[wán] + fire 灬=火 [huǒ]

Signifies the act of punishing a sinner by using the high heat of fire (灬) although a sinner is begging (丸) for mercy with two hands (扌).

230zx) 享

xiang

enjoy

230z-3d*) 孰

shu

who; what

enjoy 享 [xiǎng] + bow/pellet 丸^230c[wán]

Who is the one bowing (丸) at the ancestral shrine, which is pleasing to the ancestors (享)?

230w-3e*) 熟

shu

cooked; ripe

who 孰 [shú] + fire 灬=火¹⁵⁸[huǒ]

To impress dead ancestors, one (孰) has to make an offering or cook the ancestor’s favorite meal over a fire (灬). Of course, all fruit offered has to be ripe.