jiǎ

merchant, trade

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Components
襾 sound component

  Sound component

  

cover

贝 meaning component

  Meaning component

bèi

  

sea shell

In ancient China, shells were used as currency.

Evolution

贾 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
贾 Bronze script Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze script

Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
贾 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

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

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
贾 Traditional script Modern

Traditional script

Modern
贾 Simplified script Modern

Simplified script

Modern
Definitions

() 

jiǎ

surname; merchant; buy, trade

() 

Jiǎ

surname Jia

() 

to buy

Most common words with 贾
Freq.
Word
Meaning

merchant

贾庆林

Jia Qinglin (1940-), member of the Politburo Standing Committee 2002-2012

内贾德

abbr. for 艾哈邁迪內賈德|艾哈迈迪内贾德

商贾

merchant

贾宝玉

Jia Baoyu, male character in The Dream of Red Mansions, in love with his cousin Lin Daiyu 林黛玉 but obliged to marry Xue Baochai 薛寶釵|薛宝钗