nài

crab-apple tree

Original meaning: 

offer sacrifice for fortune-telling

Depicts wood () atop a sacrificial altar (). Based on the original meaning "offer sacrifice for fortune-telling". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Components
木 iconic component

  Iconic component

  

tree

tree

示 iconic component

  Iconic component

shì

  

show

Evolution

柰 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
柰 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

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

Clerical script

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

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

nài

crab-apple tree; endure, bear; crab-apple; how can one help

Component uses

Sound component in 2 characters (2 verified)