会意解码法 Decoding the ideographs

会意解码法 Decoding the ideographs Compound Ideographs. Compound Ideographs are the richest and most vivid symbols. 3.1.Compound ideographs are used to indicate Characters that are unable to be represented by Pictograms. Such as气 (air), depicting three oblique strokes. 儿 (child), formed by children’s unclosed fontanels. 3.2.The symbols are also used as verbs. For example: 飞 ( to fly ) is represented by two feathers soaring upward. 走 ( to walk ) is represented by the shape of a marching person. 3.3.The adjective 湿 (wet) is represented by the water underground. 美 (beautiful) is represented by feather ornaments on head. 3.4.The interjection 兮 is represented by air out from both side. Compound Ideographs are classified into three categories: monomers, such as 儿 (child), 飞 (fly), 美 (beautiful) etc.; variants, such as 卡（be stuck）, 鸣 (to tweet), 安（safe）etc.; identicals, such as 林 (wood), 森 (forest), 炎 焱、品、晶、轰、多、双、从、朋、比、赫、棘、众、磊 etc.. Compound Ideographs have obvious advantages as followed: 1) a lot of abstract meanings can be suggested; 2) It is easy to create characters; 3) the characters are easy to be identified, associated and memorized. Dicoding the ideographs There is a portion of ideographs in pictographs, it is difficult indeed to read them. We can analyse and understand their meaning first using some indications, a full understanding can only be achieved through thorough examination combining other methods, which is quite true when we try to read “爱” is not found in the oracle bone inscriptions. The seal style of “爱” is made up of a “心”, heart, and two feet respectively positioned above and under “心”, implicating love of two people or among people, and also indicating sexual love. Shen Xu said: “爱” is kindness. “心” is a form sign, the two feet are also the form or object signs, not the sound signs, which means “爱” is not a form-sound character, it is a Analysing the ideographs. Is that right? Further studies are needed. “敬”. So far we have not found the oracle bone inscription that is equivalent to “敬”. The seal style “敬” is combined by “苟” and “攴”. What meaning does this combination have? It is inexplicable. Not long ago, I spotted a monochrome abbrivated ink work on a hotel wall in Chengdu which illustrated “敬” as a woman kneeling down to show her respect. The visualization of this work is vivid, but carefully examining the work, I found something is missing, there is nothing for “攴”. Later I studied the oracle bone insription “苟” in details and understand that “敬” is something like a hand holding a teaching rod and facing an ill-mannered pupil. The meaning is to let someone respect. Shen Xu expained that “敬” is solemn having something to do with respect. In another explanation, he refered “敬” as respect which has something to do with heart. Shen Xu’s above expanations are correct.