Page:Elementary Chinese - San Tzu Ching (1900).djvu/39

Rh was, composed of 兀 wu lofty, far, 𠤎 hua (the old form of 化, to be distinguished from 七 ch'i seven, ) to melt, to change, and 亡 wang to perish turned upside down, showing that this last is to be taken in an opposite sense. It is consequently explained as that which will go far without change, lasting, long.

I see.

Hsien is composed of 人 jen man (under the form in which it appears when placed at the bottom of a character) as radical, and a corrupted 之. It is used as a comparative adverb of time.

Chih see.

Shou was originally written with three wavy strokes at the top, said to represent hair, the lower portion being an obsolete word for head.

Hsiao is composed of 老 lao old, as seen in combination, as phonetic, and 子 tzŭ child underneath as radical, thus picturing the idea of the young taking care of the old.

T'i see. The logic shows it cannot be ti.

Tz'ŭ is composed of 二 êrh two and 欠 ch'ien as radical. The latter now means to owe, but was originally a picture of vapour