Learn one Chinese Character a day - 刃

Today we are looking at one of the Chinese characters created with Indicative or Ideographs method - 刃.

指事 zhǐshì: Indicatives, or ideographs, in which the character represents an abstract notion.

As you have probably noticed that it is very close to what we have learned "刀". Before you can guess out its meaning, we check its evolution history first (image get from http://www.vividict.com):

刃, Ideograph created with 刀

 and the evolution history of 刀 as well:

刀

From above comparison, we notice that 刃 has one extra as Indicator on one edge of "刀" - Knife. Now we know that it is to indicate the sharp edge of the knife to mean Blade.

We will see many more Chinese characters created with such a way in the coming topics.

Now let us enjoy a Chinese calligraphy art with "刃" inside:

十年磨一剑,霜刃未曾试;今日把示君,谁为不平事