Evolution of Chinese

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Ancient Chinese

please select characters :
a b c ch d e f g h j k l m n p q r s sh t w x y z zh
ai1

traditional:
simplified: (same)
Pinyin: ai [1st sound]
Definition: sorrow, grief, pity, to lament

In the picture we can see the mouth with sadness behind a coat (it shows the sorrow in mind). The original meaning of it referred to “pity”, and then means “sorrow”, “grief”, “to lament”.

ai4

traditional:
simplified:
Pinyin: ai [4th sound]
Definition: to love, affection, to be fond of, to like

In the picture we can see a man has held his heart by hands and kneel down, for sent the lovely words to his girl friend. The original meaning of it referred to “love”.

an1

traditional:
simplified: (same)
Pinyin: an [1st sound]
Definition: quiet, peaceful, calm

In the picture we can see the girl is sitting down calmly in the rural house, she sits on the reed mat and her hands put at the breast position. The original meaning of it referred to "quiet", "peaceful", "calm".

an4

traditional:
simplified: (same)
Pinyin: an [4th sound]
Definition: bank, shore, beach, coast, proud, majestic

First, the word come from “厂” that means cliff or horizon. After that added phonetic part “干” (gan1), and added meaning part “山” (shan1). original meaning of it referred to “shore”, “coast”.

 
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