what? why not?

Original meaning: 

lid

Pictograph of a lid () on top of a container (). Based on the original meaning "lid", now written as . The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Components
去 iconic component

  Iconic component

  

go away

Here used to graphically represent a lid with a handle. Unrelated to the verb "go".

皿 iconic component

  Iconic component

mǐn

  

dish

Evolution

盍 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
盍 Bronze script Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Bronze script

Late Warring States (~250 BC)
盍 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

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

Clerical script

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

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

what? why not?; why not

() 

variant of [hé]

Component uses

Meaning component in 1 character (0 verified)

Sound component in 8 characters (2 verified)

Simplified component in 1 character (1 verified)