profession

Original meaning: 

attack

Depicts a person () carrying a weapon (). Based on the original meaning "attack". The meaning later shifted to "expand territory" and "develop business".

Components
丵 iconic component

  Iconic component

zhuó

  

chisel

Depicts a chisel-shaped weapon.

大 iconic component

  Iconic component

dài

  

big

Depicts a person.

Evolution

業 Bronze script Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze script

Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
業 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

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

Clerical script

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

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

() 

profession, business, trade; line of business; industry; occupation; job; employment; school studies; enterprise; property; (Buddhism) karma; deed; to engage in; already

() 

surname Ye

Most common words with 業
Freq.
Word
Meaning

企业

company

职业

occupation

专业

specialty

事业

undertaking

毕业

graduation

Component uses

Sound component in 2 characters (0 verified)