diàn

hall

Original meaning: 

to smack the buttocks

Depicts a weapon () smacking a person's buttocks (𡱒). In ancient China, having one's buttocks smacked with a huge stick was one of the punishments criminals could have. Based on the original meaning, "to smack the buttocks". The meaning later shifted to "palace" and "hall", because buildings have an elevated appearance that stick out like buttocks.

Components
𡱒 sound,iconic component

𡱒  Sound Iconic component

tún

  

buttocks

Depicts a person () with their buttocks (𠂤) emphasized. 𡱒 also represents the sound.

殳 iconic component

  Iconic component

shū

  

weapon or tool

Evolution

殿 Bronze script Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze script

Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
殿 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
殿 Clerical script Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Clerical script

Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
殿 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

殿  

diàn

hall; palace; temple; palace hall

Most common words with 殿
Freq.
Word
Meaning

殿下

His or Her Highness

殿

palace hall

宫殿

palace

神殿

shrine

殿堂

palace

Component uses

Sound component in 3 characters (1 verified)