why? what? where?

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Components
曰 meaning component

  Meaning component

yuē

  

say

匃 sound component

  Sound component

gài

  

beggar

Evolution

曷 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
曷 Clerical script Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical script

Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
曷 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
曷 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

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

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

why? what? where?; why; how; when; what; where

Component uses

Sound component in 14 characters (2 verified)

Unknown component in 1 character (0 verified)