shāng

commerce, business

Origin unclear. Seems to be composed of (chisel) and (pedestal) with being later added as a disgusting component for the name of an ancient kingdom.

Components
辛 unknown component

  Unknown component

xīn

  

laborious

The purpose of this component is unclear.

丙 unknown component

  Unknown component

bǐng

  

third

The purpose of this component is unclear.

口 distinguishing component

  Distinguishing component

kǒu

  

mouth

This component was later added for the name of an ancient kingdom.

Evolution

商 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
商 Bronze script Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze script

Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
商 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
商 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
商 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

shāng

commerce, business, trade; commerce; merchant; dealer; to consult; 2nd note in pentatonic scale; quotient (as in 智商[zhì​shāng], intelligence quotient)

 

Shāng

Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BC); surname Shang

Most common words with 商
Freq.
Word
Meaning

commerce

商业

business

商店

store

商品

commodity

商量

to consult

Component uses

Sound component in 2 characters (0 verified)