qián

go forward

Original meaning: 

washing feet

Original form of . Depicts washing feet. Borrowed very early for its sound to mean "go forward". Mistaken for depicting putting shoes on feet () to prepare to go forward.

Components
止 iconic component

  Iconic component

zhǐ

  

(foot), stop

Depicts a foot.

凡 iconic component

  Iconic component

fán

  

all

Depicts a basin. A common corruption of (pan, tray), visually similar but unrelated to (boat). Sometimes the archaic form of (bucket, tub).

Evolution

歬 Bronze script Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze script

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

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
歬 Clerical script Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical script

Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
歬 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

qián

go forward

Component uses

Sound component in 1 character (1 verified)