Chinese character 次 second, times
- second
- times, order
- inferior
- remain
- stand.
HSK – 2
STROKES – 6
RADICAL – 冫
Elements —- two 二 + open mouth 欠. Phonetic series 次.
This is two 二 breaths (or two sneezes) with an open mouth 欠, emphasizing the second one. Second > secondary > times > order > arrange > arrange hair (of woman). It is also the modern form of an OBC that showed a military encampment > place > remain > stand.
其次 qícì – next; second.
次序 cìxù – order, sequence (order + order)
Two breaths to mean second, for the second breath. First and second give the idea of counting > order. It also give the meaning of times, once, twice….
From second we have also the idea of something of second category, then inferior. Something of inferior category remains in a place, nobody want to take it. From remain > stand (a person who remains). Stand is rarely used but important to understand other characters of this family.
More posts on Chinese characters
Introducing the Dong nationality
The Dong are one of the minorities of China with a large population. According to the census of the year 2000 their population was 3,000,000 people. They live mainly in Guizhou Province (approximately 1,800,000 people), along a fringe of flat lands that cross the...
The Dai of Dehong Prefecture
Santasombat, Yos. Lak Chang: A Reconstruction of Tai Identity in Daikong. Canberra, AUS: Pandanus Books, 2001. p 1. (Introduction) The Tai ethnic group, in its different branches, is beyond any doubt one of the most widespread of any ethnic group in the Southeast...
The sacred forests of the Dai
The sacred forests of the Dai: Protecting the ancestors - protecting nature. Among the indigenous peoples that inhabit the south of China, there are a good number that have near their villages a small grove that they consider sacred. Usually they believe that this...
Chinese character 钦 qin – admire
Chinese character 钦 qin – admire. 1. Admire 2. Respect HSK -6 STROKES - 9 RADICAL - 钅Elements ---- Open mouth 欠 + metal 钅. Phonetic series 欠. A person with the mouth opened 欠 before a metallic 钅 (jīn phonetic) or golden object.钦佩 qīnpèi - admire; esteem. 钦慕 qīnmù...
Chinese character 砍 kǎn – cut
砍 kǎn – cut Main meanings: ① cut, chop ② cut down HSK - STROKES - 5 RADICAL - 石 Etymology: Elements ---- Open mouth 欠 + stone 石. Phonetic series 欠. A stone 石 knife that leaves a void 欠 when cutting. Main Words: 砍柴 kǎnchái cut firewood. Discussion and sources More...
Chinese character 软 ruǎn – soft; flexible
Main meanings: ① soft, weak ② flexible ③ timid HSK - STROKES - 8 RADICAL - 车 Etymology: Elements ---- The soft 欠 part + a car 车. Phonetic series 欠. The soft 耎 (as the beard 而 of a man 大 changed to 欠), part of a chariot 车. Here soft 欠 replaces an old character...