zhì

swine

Original meaning: 

wild boar

Depicts a pig or a wild boar being shot by an arrow (). Wild boars were common targets for hunting. also represents the sound.

Components
豕 iconic component

  Iconic component

shǐ

  

pig

Depicts a pig or a wild boar. Modern form looks like unrelated and .

矢 sound,iconic component

  Sound Iconic component

shǐ

  

arrow

Depicts an arrow.

Evolution

彘 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
彘 Bronze script Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze script

Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
彘 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
彘 Clerical script Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical script

Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
彘 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

zhì

swine